Epidemiology
Lp(a) at or above 30 mg/dL predicts severe coronary stenosis with 72.5% prevalence versus 8.0% in a Vietnamese cohort (Front Cardiovasc Med 2025)
Original title: Value of lipoprotein(a) in predicting severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with chronic coronary artery disease: a cross-sectional study in Vietnam
In a cross-sectional study of 138 patients with chronic coronary artery disease at Tam Anh General Hospital in Vietnam between June 2024 and June 2025, severe disease (Gensini score above 40) was present in 31.9% of the cohort. Patients with Lp(a) at or above 30 mg/dL had a markedly higher prevalence of severe coronary artery disease than those below that threshold (72.5% vs. 8.0%), and Lp(a) correlated strongly with the Gensini score. The optimal Lp(a) cut-off for predicting severe disease was 30.6 mg/dL, with an area under the curve of 0.869, and multivariate analysis confirmed Lp(a) as an independent predictor of severity. This is among the first data characterising Lp(a)'s predictive value for coronary severity specifically in a Vietnamese population, supporting its use for risk stratification in chronic CAD there.
Original abstract
Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] has emerged as an independent risk factor for CAD, but its role in predicting coronary severity in Vietnamese populations remains unclear.
Objectives: To evaluate the value of Lp(a) in predicting the severity of coronary artery stenosis in chronic CAD.
Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Tam Anh General Hospital from June 2024 to June 2025, including 138 patients diagnosed with chronic CAD. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and coronary angiographic data were collected. CAD severity was assessed using the Gensini score. Logistic regression and ROC analysis were employed to evaluate the predicting value of Lp(a).
Results: Severe CAD (Gensini score >40) was present in 31.9% of the cohort. Patients with Lp(a) ≥30 mg/dL exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of severe CAD (72.5% vs. 8.0%). Lp(a) levels correlated strongly with the Gensini score. The optimal cut-off for predicting severe CAD was 30.6 mg/dL (AUC = 0.869). Multivariate analysis confirmed Lp(a) as an independent predictor.
Conclusions: Lp(a) ≥30 mg/dL is strongly associated with severe coronary artery stenosis. Lp(a) is a valuable independent predictor of CAD severity and may serve as an essential tool for risk stratification in clinical practice.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.