Study: 87.3% of Indian adults have abnormal cholesterol, low HDL in 66.8%

A new study finds 87.3% of Indian adults have abnormal cholesterol levels, with low HDL, or "good" cholesterol, affecting 66.8% of the population, posing a significant cardiovascular risk. The ICMR-INDIAB study analyzed 23,655 adults, revealing that low HDL combined with high triglycerides affects 22.5% of participants. Women are slightly more affected than men, with rates of 91.1% versus 83.5%, challenging the notion that heart disease primarily affects males. HDL helps remove excess cholesterol from the body, protecting against heart attacks and strokes. Younger adults are increasingly affected due to sedentary lifestyles and poor diets, though lifestyle changes like exercise and quitting smoking can help boost HDL levels.