1. A method of determining whether a subject with elevated concentrations of very large high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles (HDL-P) is at increased risk for a cardiac event and/or CHD, comprising: providing a blood plasma or serum sample from the subject; measuring, using a NMR spectrometer; HP VS , HP ML , and HP VL , where HP VS is a concentration of very small HDL-P subclasses, HP ML is a concentration of medium and large HDL-P subclasses, and HP VL , is a concentration of very large HDL-P subclasses, programmatically calculating at least one HDL interaction risk parameter associated with HDL content of the blood plasma or serum sample of the subject, the at least one HDL interaction risk parameter comprising P1 or R1, or P1 and R1, wherein P1 is a product defined by HP VS times HP ML , and wherein R1 is a ratio defined by HP VL /HP ML , and determining the risk for a cardiac event and/or CHD using the at least one HDL interaction risk parameter.