Lipoprotein(a) increases the risk of all-cause and CVDs-related mortality

Detection of Lipoprotein(a) was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease-related mortality as per a study that was published in the journal European Journal of Internal Medicine. 

Cardiovascular diseases have caused a great burden on society with their increased mortality and morbidity. Lipoprotein(a) is associated with various cardiovascular diseases. Studies done in the recent past have shown a causal association between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs), but its association with all-cause and cause-specific mortality remains unclear. Hence, researchers conducted a study to explore the association of Lp(a) with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. 

A prospective cohort study was done on 8,525 participants from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Lp(a) was considered as an exposure variable. All-cause and cause-specific mortality were used as outcome variables, and all participants were followed from the interview date until death on December 31, 2015. COX proportional hazards regression models, stratified analysis, sensitivity analysis, restricted cubic spline plots, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze the association of Lp(a) with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. 

Results

• Lp(a) was found to be strongly associated with all-cause and CVDs-related mortality after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. 
• A higher risk of all-cause mortality was seen with higher levels of Lp(a) and in those who had an age > 60 years of age, with a BMI < 30 kg/m2, and without diabetes from subgroup analyses.
• But the association between Lp(a) and CVDs-related mortality remained stable in participants ≤ 60 years of age, male, with a BMI < 30 kg/m2, with hypertension, without diabetes, or CVDs (P < 0.05).
• The association of Lp(a) with all-cause and CVDs-related mortality remained robust after excluding individuals who died within one year of follow-up in subgroup analysis. 

Thus, the researchers concluded that Lp(a) is associated with the risk of all-cause and CVDs-related mortality.  

Further reading: 10.1016/j.ejim.2022.09.010

Wang ZW, Li M, Li JJ, Liu NF. Association of lipoprotein(a) with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: A prospective cohort study [published online ahead of print, 2022 Sep 17]. Eur J Intern Med. 2022; S0953-6205(22)00331-4.