LDL Conversion: 130 mg/dL to mmol/L
130 mg/dL of LDL cholesterol equals 3.35 mmol/L 1.
Conversion Formula
- To convert LDL cholesterol from mg/dL to mmol/L, divide by 38.67
- 130 mg/dL ÷ 38.67 = 3.35 mmol/L 1
Clinical Significance of 130 mg/dL LDL
This LDL level represents a critical treatment threshold across multiple risk categories:
High-Risk Patients (CHD or CHD Risk Equivalents)
- For patients with established coronary heart disease, diabetes, or 10-year CHD risk >20%, an LDL of 130 mg/dL (3.35 mmol/L) mandates immediate initiation of both dietary therapy and LDL-lowering drug therapy simultaneously 1.
- The target LDL goal for these patients is <100 mg/dL (2.60 mmol/L), with an optional goal of <70 mg/dL for very high-risk patients 1.
Moderately High-Risk Patients (2+ Risk Factors, 10-20% 10-Year Risk)
- Drug therapy should be initiated when LDL reaches 130 mg/dL (3.35 mmol/L) after therapeutic lifestyle changes 1, 2.
- The LDL goal for this category is <130 mg/dL (3.35 mmol/L), though an optional goal of <100 mg/dL is reasonable based on recent trial evidence 1.
- For patients with 10-year risk of 10-20%, consider drug therapy at LDL ≥130 mg/dL after dietary intervention 1.
Moderate Risk Patients (2+ Risk Factors, <10% 10-Year Risk)
- Therapeutic lifestyle changes should be initiated at LDL ≥130 mg/dL (3.35 mmol/L) 1.
- Drug therapy is typically deferred until LDL reaches ≥160 mg/dL in this lower-risk group 1.
Key Clinical Pitfalls
- Never delay drug therapy in high-risk patients with LDL ≥130 mg/dL - guidelines explicitly state that dietary therapy alone is insufficient and pharmacotherapy must be started simultaneously 1.
- When initiating drug therapy, aim for at least 30-40% LDL reduction to achieve meaningful cardiovascular risk reduction 1, 2.
- The conversion factor (38.67) is essential for interpreting international guidelines that use mmol/L units 1.