Prevalence of Lipoprotein(a) and its Association with Cardiovascular Events: A Retrospective Study in a District Hospital

Abstract

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. While the risk factors for atherosclerosis are well established, emerging biomarkers such as lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] have gained increasing attention in recent decades. However, its prevalence in the general population remains poorly characterized. This retrospective study analyzed Lp(a) levels in a cohort from a district hospital. A total of 171 measurements were evaluated, with a mean Lp(a) level of 113.38 nmol/L. Notably, 44% of patients exhibited elevated Lp(a) levels, and 7% had markedly elevated values (>400 nmol/L). A higher prevalence was observed among female patients. The population demonstrated a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors, particularly hypertension (79.5%) and diabetes (48.5%). A positive association was found between elevated Lp(a) levels and a history of cardiovascular events. Despite the selected nature of this sample, the findings suggest a higher-than expected prevalence of elevated Lp(a) levels. Given the well-established link between Lp(a) and cardiovascular events, these results highlight the importance of optimizing and intensifying the management of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with elevated Lp(a). It is important to highlight, however, that given the convenience hospital-based nature of the sample, the results cannot be directly generalized to the overall population.