Use of a multichannel analysis profile for the assessment of risk of developing coronary heart disease

The use of serum total cholesterol: high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC:HDL-C) is well-established. Because HDL-C measurements are expensive, and cholesterol is part of the multichannel analysis profile, the author attempted to determine whether other parameters which are part of this profile could be useful indicators of the TC:HDL-C ratio. Based on an inverse correlation obtained in healthy men (42-59 years of age) between HDL-C and fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.40, P < 0.001), triglycerides (r = 0.51, P < 0.001) and uric acid (r = 0.29, P < 0.01), a GUT (glucose, uric acid, triglyceride) score was calculated and correlated with the TC:HDL-C ratio (r = 0.86, P < 0.001). In over 90% of cases the GUT score was able to predict whether an individual was likely to have a TC:HDL-C ratio of <4.5 pr >4.5. Thus, the GUT score is a useful indicator for an individual who is likely to require a lipid profile which indicates HDL-C measurement.