Prevention & lipidsCross-sectional study
Prevalence of Elevated Lipoprotein(a) and its Association With Subclinical Atherosclerosis in 2.9 Million Chinese Adults
- Cross-sectional study
- multicentre
- health check-up population, 30 provinces
Authors' conclusion
Elevated Lp(a) was identified as a significant risk factor for site-specific subclinical atherosclerosis, with stronger associations observed in severe extent and multisite involvement.
Study context
- Population
- Chinese adults with Lp(a) testing at Meinian health check-up centres, 2017–20232,788,206 mass unit
- Exposure
- Elevated Lp vs Lp ≤30 mg/dL
- Outcome
- Prevalence of elevated Lp(a) and its association with site-specific and multisite subclinical atherosclerosis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of elevated Lp(a) (mass unit)
Lp(a) >30 mg/dL
18.67%
Lp(a) >50 mg/dL
8.41%
Higher prevalence in women, elderly and those with cardio-renal-metabolic risk factors
all P < 0.05
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Subclinical atherosclerosis, Lp(a) >30 to ∼50 vs ≤30 mg/dL
- Greater odds of increased carotid intima-media thickness
- 11%
- Greater odds of carotid plaque
- 15%
- Greater odds of subclinical brain infarcts
- 9%
- Greater odds of coronary artery calcification
- 11%
- Odds even higher with Lp(a) >50 mg/dL
- Stronger association with severe CAC extent and multisite (1, 2, 3 sites) involvement
- Results similar in the molar unit group
Original publication
Prevalence of Elevated Lipoprotein(a) and its Association With Subclinical Atherosclerosis in 2.9 Million Chinese Adults. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 23 April 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2025.02.032
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it