Non-HDL generally refers to non-HDL cholesterol. A high level of non-HDL cholesterol may indicate that a patient is at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Non-HDL cholesterol is the sum of cholesterol contained in lipoproteins other than HDL, including mainly LDL cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. It is a transport protein within the plasma, and its main function is to transport cholesterol from the liver to the blood, with the effect of elevating plasma cholesterol levels. Non-HDL cholesterol has a contributing role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, and is clinically known as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Elevated levels of non-HDL cholesterol increase the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and so a high level of non-HDL cholesterol may indicate that the patient is at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. It is recommended that patients with high non-HDL cholesterol should seek medical attention in a timely manner and should not self-medicate to avoid aggravating their condition.