Elevated Lp(a) does not predict organ damage or cardiovascular events in a low-risk primary prevention cohort of 747 (High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 2026)

Original title: Lipoprotein(a) Does Not Correlate with Hypertensive Mediated Organ Damage and Subsequent Cardiovascular Events in a Primary Prevention Cohort

High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev · 18 March 2026 · 5

Tognola C, Bernasconi DP, Rebora P, Intravaia RCM, Mancusi C, Visco V, Cesaro A, Golia E, Ilaria F, Merlini P, Ardissino M, Inglese E et al.

Primary prevention cohort of 747 low cardiovascular-risk subjects recruited 2009-2014 (mean age 50.8±13.0 years, 63.5% men), followed a median 10 years for hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD, assessed by pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness, plaque presence, left ventricular hypertrophy and ejection fraction, and glomerular filtration rate) and cardiovascular events. Median Lp(a) was 17 mg/dL (5.9-56.0), and 26.5% had Lp(a) above 50 mg/dL. Prevalence of arterial stiffness was 10.3%, increased intima-media thickness 7.2%, carotid plaques 19.8%, and left ventricular hypertrophy only 0.7%. No significant correlation was found between Lp(a) and any HMOD measure, and no relationship was found between Lp(a) and cardiovascular events or all-cause mortality. The authors conclude Lp(a) was not associated with structural organ damage or hard outcomes in this low-risk primary prevention population.

Original abstract

Introduction: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels have been strongly related to cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, its association with Hypertension Mediated Organ Damage (HMOD) and CV events in the primary prevention setting remains unclear.

Aim: To evaluate in these patients, the correlation between Lp(a) levels and: (i) heart, vessels and kidney HMOD and; (ii) CV events and all-cause mortality in a primary prevention setting.

Methods: 747 low CV risk subjects were recruited between 2009 and 2014. HMOD was assessed through Pulse Wave Velocity, carotid Intima-Media Thickness (IMT), presence of carotid plaques, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) and Ejection Fraction and glomerular filtration rate. All-cause mortality and CV events up to 2021 were retrieved by electronic health records, for a median follow-up time of 10 years (I-III quartiles 9.6-11.1).

Results: Mean age was 50.8 ± 13.0 years and 63.5% of the subjects were men. The prevalence of hypertension was 37.9%, dyslipidemia 67.2%, smoking 17.8%, and diabetes mellitus 8.7%. Median Lp(a) value was 17 mg/dL (5.9-56.0), and 26.5% of patients had values above 50 mg/dL. Regarding HMOD, 10.3% subjects had arterial stiffness, 7.2% increased IMT, 19.8% carotid plaques while only 0.7% had LVH. No significant correlation was found between Lp(a) levels and indices of subclinical HMOD. Furthermore, no relationship was found between CV events and all-cause mortality and Lp(a) levels.

Conclusions: In this primary prevention cohort, elevated Lp(a) levels were not associated with significant structural damage to the heart, carotid arteries, or increased aortic stiffness and were not associated with CV events and all-cause mortality.

Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 17 August 2026. Methods.