Prevention & lipidsCohort study

Lipoprotein (a) Testing and Changes in Lipid-Lowering Therapy in Patients With ASCVD: Findings From the cvMOBIUS-2 Registry

Circ Popul Health OutcomesPublished

  • Electronic health record patient data from 13 US health systems
  • registry
  • multivariable logistic regression

Authors' conclusion

Lp(a) testing remains low despite guideline recommendations. Although those with elevated Lp(a) were more likely to undergo lipid-lowering therapy intensification, over half of those with Lp(a)≥200 nmol/L or ≥ 80 mg/dL had no change in therapy. These results highlight a significant gap in clinical care and an opportunity to improve the use of Lp(a) testing to guide LDL-C management.

Study context

Population
Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in 13 US health systems, January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2025patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, 36,410 (1.9%) had an Lp(a) test
Participants
1,948,540 patients
Exposure
Factors associated with Lp(a) testing and high Lp(a) (≥125 nmol/L or ≥50 mg/dL); changes in lipid-lowering therapy after Lp(a) testing stratified by Lp(a) level

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Lp(a) testing · January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2025

Patients who had an Lp(a) test

36 410 (1.9%)

Testing in 2021

0.2%

Testing in 2024

0.8%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Odds of undergoing Lp(a) testing

Comparisonodds ratio (95% CI)
female sex · less likely to undergo testing · multivariable logistic regression0.95 (0.93–0.98)
non-Hispanic Black patients · less likely to undergo testing · multivariable logistic regression0.79 (0.76–0.82)

Odds of elevated Lp(a)

Comparisonodds ratio (95% CI)
female sex · higher odds of elevated Lp(a) · multivariable logistic regression1.19 (1.14–1.25)
non-Hispanic Black patients · higher odds of elevated Lp(a) · multivariable logistic regression2.83 (2.63–3.05)
OutcomeValuesEstimate
Intensification of lipid-lowering therapy in those with LDL-C≥55 mg/dL, by Lp(a) levelLp(a) 125 to <200 nmol or 50 to <80 mg/dL 32.7% · Lp(a)≥200 nmol or ≥80 mg/dL 38.2%
  • Intensification of lipid-lowering therapy in those with LDL-C≥55 mg/dL, by Lp(a) level: P trend <0.001

Elevated Lp(a) among tested patients

Tested patients with elevated Lp(a)
31.1%

Original publication

Lipoprotein (a) Testing and Changes in Lipid-Lowering Therapy in Patients With ASCVD: Findings From the cvMOBIUS-2 Registry. Circ Popul Health Outcomes. Published 30 August 2026. doi:10.1161/circoutcomes.126.013883

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it