Elevated High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) Levels By Michael H Davidson, MD, FACC, FNLA, University of Chicago Medicine, Pritzker School of Medicine; Pallavi Pradeep, MD, University of Chicago Reviewed / Revised May 2023 View Patient Education Elevated high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level is HDL cholesterol > 80 mg / dL (> 2.1 mmol/L).