Relation of First and Total Recurrent Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Events to Increased Lipoprotein(a) Levels Among Statin Treated Adults With Cardiovascular Disease

Am J Cardiol. 2021 Apr 15:145:12-17. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2020.12.075. Epub 2021 Jan 14.

Abstract

The relation between elevated lipoprotein(a) and total atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) residual risk in persons with known cardiovascular disease on statin therapy is not well-established. We examined first and total recurrent ASCVD event risk in statin-treated adults with prior ASCVD. We studied 3,359 adults (mean age 63.6 years, 85.1% male) with prior ASCVD on statin therapy from the AIM-HIGH clinical trial cohort. The first and total ASCVD event rates were calculated by lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] categories. Cox regression and Prentice, Williams and Peterson (PWP) models provided hazard ratios (HRs) for ASCVD events over a mean follow-up of 3.3 years, adjusted for age, gender, trial treatment, LDL-C, and other risk factors. A total of 747 events occurred during follow-up, among which 544 were first events. First and total ASCVD event rates were greater with higher Lp(a) levels. Compared with Lp(a)<15 mg/dL, HRs (95% CIs) for subsequent total ASCVD events among Lp(a) levels of 15-<30, 30-<50, 50-<70, and ≥70 mg/dL were 1.04 (0.82 to 1.32), 1.15 (0.88 to 1.49), 1.27 (1.00 to 1.63) and 1.51 (1.25 to 1.84). Moreover, a continuous relation for total events was observed (HR=1.08 [1.04 to 1.12] per 20 mg/dL greater Lp(a). Findings for first ASCVD events and in those with LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL versus <70 mg/dL and with and without diabetes were similar. The risk of first and total ASCVD events is increased with Lp(a) levels of ≥70 mg/dL and ≥50 mg/dL, respectively, among adults with known CVD on statin therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Aged
  • Atherosclerosis / blood
  • Atherosclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Coronary Disease / mortality
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Ischemic Stroke / epidemiology
  • Lipoprotein(a) / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology
  • Myocardial Revascularization / statistics & numerical data
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models

Substances

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Lipoprotein(a)