Elevated plasma lipoprotein(a) and coronary heart disease in men aged 55 years and younger. A prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To establish whether elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], detected as a sinking pre-beta-lipoprotein band on electrophoresis of fresh plasma, is an independent risk factor for the development of premature coronary heart disease (CHD) in men.


METHODS
Prospective study of the Framingham offspring cohort.


METHODS
A total of 2191 men aged 20 to 54 years old who were free of cardiovascular disease when they were examined between 1971 and 1975.


METHODS
Incident CHD (myocardial infarction, coronary insufficiency, angina pectoris, or sudden cardiac death) occurring by age 55 years.


RESULTS
After a median follow-up of 15.4 years, there were 129 CHD events. The relative risk (RR) estimates (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for premature CHD derived from a proportional hazards model that included age, body mass index, and the dichotomized risk factor covariables elevated plasma Lp(a) level, total cholesterol level of 6.2 mmol/L (240 mg/dL) or more, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level less than 0.9 mmol/L (35 mg/dL), smoking, glucose intolerance, and hypertension were as follows: elevated Lp(a) level, RR, 1.9 (95% CI, 1.2-2.9), prevalence, 11.3%; total cholesterol level of 6.2 mmol/L or more, RR, 1.8 (95% CI, 1.2-2.7), prevalence, 14.3%; HDL level of less than 0.9 mmol/L, RR, 1.8 (95% CI, 1.2-2.6), prevalence 19.2%; smoking, RR 3.6 (95% CI, 2.2-5.5), prevalence, 46.7%; glucose intolerance, RR, 2.7 (95% CI, 1.4-5.3), prevalence, 2.6%; hypertension, RR, 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8-1.8), prevalence, 26.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated plasma Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for the development of premature CHD in men, comparable in magnitude and prevalence (ie, attributable risk) to a total cholesterol level of 6.2 mmol/L (240 mg/dL) or more, or an HDL level less than 0.9 mmol/L (35 mg/dL).
Bostom
A G
AG
Framingham Study, Epidemiology and Biometry Program, Framingham, Mass., USA.
Cupples
L A
LA
Jenner
J L
JL
Ordovas
J M
JM
Seman
L J
LJ
Wilson
P W
PW
Schaefer
E J
EJ
Castelli
W P
WP
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004586:Electrophoresis; D053442:High-Density Lipoproteins, Pre-beta; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D053442:High-Density Lipoproteins, Pre-beta; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL