Testing
The largest Arabian Gulf survey of its kind finds only 23.6% of 1,069 physicians have ever ordered an Lp(a) test (J Clin Lipidol 2025)
Original title: Lipoprotein(a) knowledge, awareness, and clinical practice among physicians in the Arabian Gulf region
In this cross-sectional online survey of 1,069 physicians across Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain conducted between December 2024 and February 2025, mean Lp(a) knowledge was modest (9.0 out of 17.0), and 75% of respondents self-reported being unaware of Lp(a) or neutral about it. Cardiologists and tertiary-care practitioners scored slightly higher than other subspecialists and non-tertiary practitioners (9.34 vs. 8.78, P < .001). Only 252 respondents (23.6%) reported having ever requested Lp(a) testing, with lack of information (31.2%) and unavailability in hospitals (23.9%) cited as the main barriers. Statins were viewed as first-line for lowering Lp(a) by 55.6% of respondents, while the dedicated Lp(a)-lowering agent pelacarsen was chosen as first-line by only 31.7%. As the largest such survey to date, the findings are a call to action for Lp(a) education and testing access in the region.
Original abstract
Background And Aims: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is a promising biomarker with potential to improve atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk assessment tools. We assessed knowledge, awareness, and frequency of encounters with elevated levels of Lp(a) and related management strategies among physicians in the Arabian Gulf region.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a self-administered online survey was distributed from December 2024 to February 2025 to clinicians in Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The questionnaire assessed demographics, knowledge, awareness, and clinical practice.
Results: Among the 1069 included respondents, the mean knowledge score was modest (M = 9.0 ± 3.5/17.0), and 75% self-reported as being unaware of Lp(a) or "neutral." Those in cardiology had slightly higher knowledge scores compared to those in other subspecialties (P < .001), and tertiary care practitioners had marginally better knowledge scores than non-tertiary practitioners (9.34 vs 8.78; P < .001). Only 252 (23.6%) participants reported having requested Lp(a) measurements, and lack of information (31.2%) and unavailability in hospitals (23.9%) were cited as the main reasons for not ordering Lp(a). Statins were viewed as the best initial approach to lowering Lp(a) (55.6%), and the Lp(a)-lowering medication pelacarsen was not commonly selected as first-line (31.7%).
Conclusion: Physicians in the Arabian Gulf region report limited basic and clinical knowledge of Lp(a), which could result in underestimation of cardiovascular risk. These findings, in the largest such study to date, are a call to action to increase awareness about Lp(a) and accessibility to testing.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.