Serum lipoprotein(a) level as long-term predictor of cardiovascular mortality in a large sample of subjects in primary cardiovascular prevention: data from the Brisighella Heart Study

BackgroundHigh lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels have been re-evaluated as an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular diseases.MethodsWe assessed whether serum Lp(a) levels can significantly influence long-term survival in subjects with an equal general cardiovascular (CV) risk profile.We prospectively evaluated a sample of 1215 adult subjects from the Brisighella Heart Study cohort (M: 608; F: 607; aged 40-69) who had no cardiovascular disease at enrolment. According to the CUORE project risk-charts (Italian-specific risk-charts), individuals were stratified into a low-(n = 865), an intermediate-(n = 275) and a high-(n = 75) cardiovascular risk groups. Kaplan-Meier 25-year survival analysis was carried out examining apart each class of risk and the log-rank statistic was used to estimate, when statistically possible, the survival time of the subjects stratified into quartiles of Lp(a).ResultsSubjects at high and intermediate CV risk aged 56-69 years (regardless of gender) and women aged 40-55 years with a low CV risk profile who had lower Lp(a) levels showed a significant benefit on CV mortality (P < 0.05 always) and, indicatively, on the estimated survival time (even P < 0.05). The ROC curves constructing for each CV risk group using Lp(a) as test-variable and death as state-variable identified serum Lp(a) as an independent long-term CV mortality prognosticator for subjects at high CV risk (AUC = 0.63, 95%CI [0.50-0.76], P = 0.049) and women with an intermediate CV risk profile (AUC = 0.7, 95%CI [0.52-0.79], P = 0.034).ConclusionsIn the light of our finding and at the best of the previous knowledge, dosing Lp(a) is confirmed as important in subjects at high or medium risk (even if in primary prevention for CV diseases), especially in women.