08 Jan Brigham and Women’s Study Evaluates 30-Year Risk of Elevated Lipoprotein A and Cardiovascular Disease in Women
Dr. Nordestgaard
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Ask T. Nordestgaard, MD PhD
Postdoctoral research fellow
Division of Preventive Medicine
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Boston, MA 02215
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Elevated Lp(a) is associated with high risk of CVD in multiple cohorts. We have recently shown that Lp(a) in the highest quintile is associated with 30-year risk of CVD; however, among healthy individuals, these results may be driven only by those with very extreme Lp(a) levels (e.g., above the 99th percentile).
Therefore, in this follow-up study, we examined associations between various clinical thresholds of Lp(a) and CVD across 30 years of follow-up among apparently healthy women.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Across 30 years of follow-up, elevated baseline Lp(a) levels are associated with high risk of total CVD, coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, and CV death.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: These findings highlight the importance of addressing cardiovascular risk among primary prevention individuals with high levels of Lp(a), and further suggest that clinicians should consider screening for Lp(a) at an early time.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?
Response: Most importantly, we are waiting for the results from the large outcomes trials of Lp(a)-lowering drugs. However, it would very interesting if our results for 30-year follow-up or longer could be replicated in other cohorts and populations including men.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?
Response: I have no relevant disclosures. My work is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (10.46540/3165-00227B). The Women’s Health Study is funded by several grants from the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL043851, HL080467, and HL099355) and National Cancer Institute (CA047988 and CA182913).
Citation:
Nordestgaard ATChasman DIMoorthy V, et al. Thirty-Year Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Healthy Women According to Clinical Thresholds of Lipoprotein(a). JAMA Cardiol. Published online January 07, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2025.5043
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Last Updated on January 8, 2026 by Marie Benz MD FAAD