Cross-sectional study
Lipoprotein(a) levels in children with suspected familial hypercholesterolaemia: a cross-sectional study
- Cross-sectional study
- single paediatric lipid clinic, 1989-2020
Authors' conclusion
Lp(a) was significantly higher and more frequently elevated in children with probable FH compared with children with definite FH and unaffected siblings, suggesting that high Lp(a) may underlie the clinical presentation of FH when no FH-causing mutation is found.
Study context
- Population
- Children visiting the paediatric lipid clinic with Lp(a) measurement and DNA analysis performed (mean age 10.3 years)
- Participants
- 2,721 children
- Exposure
- Lp levels across children with and without familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)
- Definite FHn = 1,931
- Unaffected siblings/normolipidaemic controlsn = 290
- Probable FHn = 108
- Probable non-FHn = 392
- Outcome
- Lp(a) levels (high Lp(a))
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
High Lp(a); Lp(a) geometric mean
| Outcome | Definite FH | Unaffected siblings/normolipidaemic controls | Probable FH | Probable non-FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Lp(a); Lp(a) geometric mean | geometric mean 11.5 (95% CI 10.9–12.1) mg/dL | geometric mean 9.8 (95% CI 8.4–11.3) mg/dL | geometric mean 15.9 (95% CI 12.3–20.6) mg/dL | |
| High Lp(a) | 10% | 10% | 32% | Not reported in the abstract |
- Probable FH vs Definite FH: P = 0.017
- Probable FH vs Unaffected siblings/normolipidaemic controls: P = 0.002
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Lipoprotein(a) levels in children with suspected familial hypercholesterolaemia: a cross-sectional study. Eur Heart J. Published 16 November 2022. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehac660
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it