Prevention & lipids

Physician perspectives on Lp(a) testing and management in patients with cardiovascular disease: interviews from seven countries across five world health organization regions from INTERASPIRE

Eur J Prev CardiolPublished Cross-sectional interview study

Authors' conclusion

Whilst most physicians believe that Lp(a) testing would benefit patients and their relatives, there is marked heterogeneity in access to Lp(a) testing. Interpretation of an elevated Lp(a) varies widely and about one-third of physicians were unsure or did not know.

Study context

Population
Physicians involved in INTERASPIRE (secondary prevention) in China, Colombia, Kenya, Nigeria, Malaysia, Poland, UAE
Participants
245 physicians
Outcome
Physician perspectives on Lp(a) testing and management
Methodological detailssub-study of the INTERASPIRE cohort, telephone interviews, 7 countries, questionnaire-based, Telephone interviews by trained research assistants in national languages using specially developed questionnaires
  • Sub-study of the INTERASPIRE cohort
  • Telephone interviews
  • 7 countries
  • Questionnaire-based
  • Telephone interviews by trained research assistants in national languages using specially developed questionnaires

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Access to Lp(a) measurement
43%
Of those with access, measured routinely (significant variation between countries)
50%
Would request testing in premature coronary disease
91%
Would request testing after second or recurrent coronary event
81%
Would request testing with first-degree relatives with high Lp(a)
82%
Received Lp(a) results in mass units
More than two-thirds
Defined elevated Lp(a) as >50 mg/dL (most common definition)
25%
Unsure or did not know definition of elevated Lp(a)
32%
Believed Lp(a) testing beneficial
94%
Would advise testing of first-degree relatives
81%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Original publication

Physician perspectives on Lp(a) testing and management in patients with cardiovascular disease: interviews from seven countries across five world health organization regions from INTERASPIRE. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 29 August 2025. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf527

Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →

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