Definitions of hypertriglyceridaemia in National Cholesterol Education Program152 correlated against Fredrickson-defined hyperlipidaemia class, predominant lipoprotein fractions and approximate prevalence in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES)9 and Very Large Database of Lipids study of specialised lipid sample requests11
| Category | Definition (mmol/L; mg/dL) | Fredrickson class | Prevalence in general population (%) | Prevalence in lipid clinics (%) |
| Normal | <1.7 (150) | 2A LDL | 67 | 59.9 |
| Borderline | 1.7–2.2 (150-200) | 2A LDL | 15 | 3.9 |
| Raised | 2.3–5.5 (200-500) | 2B LDL >VLDL | 16.5 | 10.3 |
| High | 5.6–10.9 (500–1000) | 3 or 4 IDL and VLDL | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| Severe | 11.0–19.9 (1000–1800) | 4 Excess VLDL | 24.1 | |
| Extreme | >20–22 (>1800–2000) | 5 VLDL and CM | NA | 0.13 |
| >20–22 (>1800–2000) | 1 CM and CM remnants | 1 in 106 | NA |
CM, chylomicron; IDL, intermediate density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; VLDL, very low-density lipoprotein.