Prevention & lipidsCross-sectional study
The role of lipoprotein(a) in predicting coronary artery disease among ageing endurance athletes and healthy controls
- Cross-sectional study
Authors' conclusion
Lp(a) is independently associated with subclinical CAD in ageing endurance athletes and healthy controls, despite similarly low conventional cardiovascular risk.
Study context
- Population
- Men aged 45–70 years without known CV risk factors (Master@Heart study)
- Participants
- 558 men
- Exposure
- Elevated Lp vs lower Lp
- Lifelong athletesn = 191
- Late-onset athletesn = 191
- Healthy controlsn = 176reference
- Outcome
- Subclinical CAD on coronary CT angiography (CAC and plaques)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Association of Lp(a) with subclinical CAD (adjusted OR)
- Elevated Lp(a) (>125 nmol/L): prevalence
- 76 (13.6%)
- Elevated Lp(a) and age-specific coronary artery calcification (CAC) percentile≥75
- OR 1.80, p=0.049
- Elevated Lp(a) and ≥1 mixed plaque
- OR 1.76, p=0.046
- Per 10 nmol/L Lp(a) and CAC>100
- OR 1.03, p=0.045
- Per 10 nmol/L Lp(a) and CAC percentile≥75
- OR 1.04, p=0.014
- Per 10 nmol/L Lp(a) and ≥1 mixed or non-calcified plaque
- OR 1.03, p=0.029
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Lp(a) and prevalence of elevated Lp(a) across exercise groups
- Lp(a) similar across lifelong athletes, late-onset athletes and controls
- P = 0.586
- Prevalence of elevated Lp(a) similar across groups
- P = 0.724
- No significant interaction between Lp(a) and exercise groups in predicting coronary artery disease (CAD)
Original publication
The role of lipoprotein(a) in predicting coronary artery disease among ageing endurance athletes and healthy controls. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 18 October 2025. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf680
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it