A Balanced Heart Is A Healthy Heart
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By Team Adesso | Posted Aug 22, 2024
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death for women in the United States. While there are numerous factors that contribute to an individual’s risk of cardiac events, one predictor of CVD risk is Lipoprotein (a), or Lp(a). Recent studies have found that elevated levels of Lp(a) in youth tracks with adult atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk.
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Lp(a) is a lipoprotein particle composed of an apolipoprotein B-100 molecule and an apolipoprotein (a). It has been proposed to be involved in the development of coronary heart diseases, stroke and peripheral vascular diseases. Studies have found that individuals with high levels of Lp(a) have an increased risk for coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, carotid artery stenosis and peripheral arterial disease.
A recent study from the University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center examined the association between youth serum Lipoprotein (a) concentrations and adult ASCVD risk among participants in four cohorts. The study included 4,983 participants aged six to 24-years-old followed for a median of 14 years who had serum Lp(a) measured at baseline and no history of ASCVD at follow-up. After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, and hypertension status at baseline, the results showed that participants with higher baseline concentrations had higher odds ratios for adult ASCVD outcomes than those with lower concentrations. These findings suggest that elevated levels of Lp(a) in youth may track with adult ASCVD risk.
This research is important because it highlights the need to identify modifiable CVD risks early in life to prevent later morbidity and mortality associated with heart disease or stroke. Furthermore, this research suggests that measuring levels of lipoproteins such as Lp(a) can help clinicians identify patients who may need additional monitoring or treatment to reduce their future CVD risk.
Clinicians should consider measuring levels of lipoproteins such as Lp(a) when evaluating their female patients’ cardiovascular health to better identify those who may require additional monitoring or treatment to reduce their future CVD risk.
