Testing
Quality-improvement initiative roughly doubles Lp(a) ordering in an outpatient cardiology clinic (J Clin Lipidol 2026)
Original title: Lipoprotein(a) testing in an outpatient cardiology clinic: A quality improvement initiative
Quality improvement initiative in a general cardiology fellows' clinic at an urban academic medical center, using provider education and electronic health record tools to increase Lp(a) ordering. Over 10 months, the proportion of patients with an Lp(a) order rose from 10.1% to 20.9%, and the proportion with an Lp(a) result rose from 7.0% to 11.2%. The authors conclude that ahead of results from ongoing Lp(a)-targeted therapy trials, health systems can use quality-improvement methods to raise Lp(a) ordering rates, identify patients who may benefit from future targeted therapy, and prepare for rapid expansion of Lp(a) testing.
Original abstract
Background: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent and causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Increasingly, prevention societies recommend testing Lp(a) at least once for all adults.
Objective: A quality improvement (QI) initiative aimed to increase the rates of Lp(a) ordering for patients was piloted in the general cardiology fellows' clinic at an urban academic medical center.
Methods: QI project interventions focused on provider education and inclusion of electronic health record-based tools.
Results: Over a period of 10 months, the proportion of patients with an Lp(a) order increased from 10.1% to 20.9%, and the proportion of patients with an Lp(a) result increased from 7.0% to 11.2%.
Conclusion: Ahead of results from ongoing clinical trials testing Lp(a)-targeted therapies, health systems can use QI methods to assess current Lp(a) ordering practices, identify patients who may benefit from future Lp(a)-targeted therapy, and plan for rapid expansion of Lp(a) testing.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 17 August 2026. Methods.