Guidelines to Interpret Results from Health Screening
Charles J. Glueck MD, Jewish Hospital Cholesterol Center,
cjglueck@health-partners.org
Mercy Health Partners Employees, Health Screening, Interpretation of results for blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and obesity.
Blood Glucose:
Blood Glucose, or blood sugar, is a marker for diabetes. Diabetes is diagnosed by a physician when an individual has two separate fasting glucose readings of 126 mg/dL or greater. A fasting glucose reading measuring 100-125 mg/dL is an indicator of risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, and is called impaired fasting glucose (IFG).
Healthy diet, healthy weight, and regular exercise are key components of diabetes and pre-diabetes management. In order to prevent complications with your eyes, kidneys, feet and cardiovascular system, consult your PCP as soon as possible if your fasting glucose is elevated.
| Category |
State |
Blood Glucose Values (mg/dL) |
Recommendations |
| Optimal |
Fasting |
70-100 |
Follow up with your PCP within the next year. |
| IFG |
Fasting |
100-125 |
Make an appointment with your PCP in the next 6 weeks or less for a blood glucose test. |
| Type 2 diabetes |
Fasting |
>126 |
If >150 follow-up with your doctor in the next 24 hours. If not, make an appointment with your PCP in the next week or less for a blood glucose test and a glucose tolerance test. |
| Optimal |
Non-fasting |
<200 |
Follow up with your PCP within the next year. |
| High |
Non-fasting |
>200 |
Make an appointment with your PCP in the next 6 weeks or less for a blood glucose test. |
Hemoglobin A1C (A1c) is a lab test, which determines your average blood glucose level over the past three months. An optimal A1c indicates overall good control of blood glucose in the recent past. This helps delay the onset of diabetes-associated complications. The optimal A1c for an individual without diabetes is less than 6%, while the optimal A1c for an individual with diabetes is less than 6.8%.
If your A1c is > 8.0% follow-up with your doctor in the next 24 hours. If your A1c is > 7.5% follow-up with your doctor in the next week, make an appointment with your PCP in the next week or less for a blood glucose test. Otherwise, follow-up with your PCP in the next 6 weeks.
Cholesterol
Screening Consult Recommendations
Cholesterol is a “wax-like” substance found in the body. It is produced by the body, but is also consumed from animal products in our diet. Our bodies need some cholesterol, but too much can cause blockages in our arteries. High cholesterol is a serious risk for heart disease.
Total Cholesterol:
Total cholesterol is made up of your LDL-Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol and a portion of your triglycerides. Total cholesterol is the most important risk factor for those who do not have diabetes or heart disease.
| Category |
Total Cholesterol |
Recommendations |
| Desirable |
<200 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next year. |
| Borderline High |
200-239 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next 6 months for a fasting lipid profile. |
| High |
>240 |
If > 300, follow-up with your PCP in the next 24 hours. If not, follow-up with your PCP in the next week or less for a fasting lipid profile. |
LDL cholesterol
L DL-cholesterol is the “bad” form of cholesterol. It causes blockages in your arteries and increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
| Category |
Total Cholesterol |
Recommendations |
| Optimal |
<100 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next year. |
| Near Optimal |
100-129 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next 3 months for a fasting lipid profile |
| Borderline High |
130-159 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next 3 months for a fasting lipid profile. |
| High |
160-189 |
Follow-up with your PCP in the next 6 weeks or less for a fasting lipid profile. |
| Very high |
>190 |
If > 250, follow-up with your PCP in the next 24 hours. If >190, follow-up with your PCP in the next week for a fasting lipid profile |
| Known coronary heart disease and /or Type 2 diabetes |
<70 |
Follow-up with your PCP every 3 or 4 months for a fasting lipid profile. |
HDL-Cholesterol:
HDL-cholesterol is the “good” form of cholesterol. It helps remove the excess
LDL-cholesterol from the body.
- Women should have HDL-cholesterol levels greater than 50 mg/dL
- Men should have HDL-cholesterol levels greater than 40 mg/dL.
| HDL-Cholesterol Values (mg/dL) |
Possible Outcome |
| <40 |
Major risk factor for heart disease |
| >60 |
Protective against heart disease |
Triglycerides:
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. They are the most common type of fat and a major source of energy. Triglycerides are the storage form of excess calories. High triglyceride levels are associated with decreased HDL-cholesterol levels and an increased risk of heart disease.
| Category |
Triglyceride Values (mg/dL) |
Recommendations |
| Normal |
<150 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next year. |
| Borderline-high |
150-199 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next 6 months for a fasting lipid profile |
| High |
200 -499 |
If > 400, follow-up with your PCP within the next week. If not. follow-up with your PCP within the next 3 months for a fasting lipid profile and a glucose test. |
| Very high |
>500 |
If > 650, follow-up with your PCP in the next 24 hours. Otherwise, follow-up with your PCP within the next week for a fasting lipid profile |
Blood Pressure:
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. Systolic pressure
is the force of blood on the artery walls when the heart beats. It is expressed as the top number in a blood pressure reading. Diastolic pressure is the force of blood on the artery walls when the heart relaxes, between beats. It is expressed as the bottom number in a blood pressure reading. High blood pressure (hypertension) is dangerous because it increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
| Category |
Systolic (mmHg) |
Diastolic (mmHg) |
Recommendations |
| Normal |
<120 |
<80 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next year. |
| Pre-hypertension |
120-139 |
or 80-89 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next 6 weeks. |
| Stage 1 hypertension |
140-159 |
or 90-99 |
If BP either > 150 SBP or > 90 DBP, follow-up with your PCP within the next week. Otherwise follow-up within 3 weeks. |
| Stage 2 hypertension |
>160 |
or >100 |
Follow-up with your PCP within the next 24 hours. |
Obesity
BMI is a ratio of your height to your weight. Because height is a factor that we cannot
change, for individuals who fall in the overweight and obese categories, gradual weight
loss is recommended. Weight loss will help decrease risk for chronic conditions such
as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. This is calculated as your weight in kilograms (divide pounds by 2.2), and your height in centimeters (multiply inches times 2.54). Then divide kg by inches squared and multiply times 10,000 to get your BMI.
| BMI Classifications |
BMI |
| Underweight |
<18.5 |
| Normal weight |
18.5-24.9 |
| Overweight |
25-29.9 |
| Obese |
30-39.9 |
| Class 3 obesity |
>40 |
