Testing
Lp(a) testing rose 109% over five years at a UAE quaternary centre, and abnormal Lp(a) tracked with cardiovascular disease in 5,677 tested patients (Front Cardiovasc Med 2024)
Original title: Trends and findings of lipoprotein(a) testing and associated cardiovascular disease profiles: a large single-center study from the Middle East-Gulf region
In a single quaternary-care centre in the United Arab Emirates, 5,677 patients (0.95% of the total patient population) had Lp(a) measured between July 2017 and October 2023, with a median level of 32 [11-82] nmol/L. Lp(a) testing rose 109% from 2018 to 2022, alongside an increase in abnormal findings (Lp(a) >125 nmol/L) from 11.8% to 16.4% (P=0.02). Overall, 15.9% of tests were abnormal, and these patients had higher rates of prevalent cardiovascular disease (34% vs 25.1%, P<0.001), coronary artery disease (25.6% vs 17.7%, P<0.001), heart failure (6.5% vs 3.8%, P<0.001), and stroke (7.1% vs 4.4%, P<0.001) than those with normal Lp(a). The findings document growing Lp(a) testing awareness and its cardiovascular relevance in an understudied Middle East-Gulf population.
Original abstract
Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a genetically determined risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Limited data are available on Lp(a) testing from the Middle-East region. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the utilization and yield of Lp(a) testing over time and characterize CVD profiles of patients with abnormal Lp(a) tasting at a single-quaternary-care center in the United Arab Emirates.
Methods: Unique Lp(a) tests conducted between 07/2017 and 10-2023 were included. Overtime trends in Lp(a) test utilization and abnormal Lp(a) [defined as Lp(a) > 125 nmol/L] test findings were described. CVD rates in patients with abnormal Lp(a) were compared to those with Lp(a) ≤ 125 nmol/L using appropriate methods.
Results: In our center, 0.95% of the patients (n = 5,677) had their Lp(a) measured, with a median level of 32 [11-82] nmol/L. Lp(a) was abnormal in 15.9% of the tests. Over the years 2018-2022, there was a 109% increase in Lp(a) testing, with concomitant up-trends in findings of abnormal Lp(a) (11.8% to 16.4%, P = 0.02). Compared to patients with Lp(a) ≤ 125 nmol/I, those with abnormal Lp(a) had higher rates of any prevalent CVD (34% vs. 25.1%, P < 0.001), CAD (25.6% vs. 17.7%, P < 0.001), HF (6.5% vs. 3.8%, P < 0.001), and stroke (7.1% vs. 4.4%, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Almost one in six patients tested for Lp(a) had abnormally elevated Lp(a), and CVD was prevalent in one-third of the patients who tested abnormal for Lp(a). The study highlights the growing awareness of the relevance of Lp(a) for CVD risk stratification and prevention.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.