Prevention & lipidsCross-sectional study
Genetically predicted lipoprotein(a) associates with coronary artery plaque severity independent of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
- Cross-sectional genetic association study
- polygenic score
- Million Veteran Program
Authors' conclusion
Genetically predicted Lp(a) is positively associated with coronary plaque severity independent of LDL-C, consistent with Lp(a) promoting atherogenesis. However, the effects of Lp(a) may be greater for progression of plaque to obstructive disease than for the initial development of non-obstructive plaque.
Study context
- Population
- Million Veteran Program participants who underwent invasive angiogram
- Participants
- 18,927 vs 4,039
- Exposure
- Genetically predicted Lp(a) (polygenic score), with genetically predicted low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) for comparison
- European ancestryn = 18,927
- African ancestryn = 4,039
- Outcome
- Coronary artery plaque severity: normal, non-obstructive disease, one-vessel disease, two-vessel disease, three-vessel or left main disease
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Coronary plaque severity
- Consistent associations between genetically predicted Lp(a) and obstructive coronary plaque, effect sizes trending upward with increasingly severe disease
- Associations independent of risk factors, clinically measured LDL-C and genetically predicted LDL-C
- No strong or consistent evidence for an association between genetically predicted Lp(a) and non-obstructive plaque
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Genetically predicted lipoprotein(a) associates with coronary artery plaque severity independent of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 19 August 2024. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwae271
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it