Sex-specific associations of lipoprotein(a) with presence and quantity of coronary artery calcification in an asymptomatic population.
BACKGROUND
Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a potential risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The relationship between serum Lp(a) and coronary artery calcification (CAC), a measure of subclinical coronary artery atherosclerosis, has not been extensively explored.


METHODS
Electron beam computed tomography was performed on 616 asymptomatic, white individuals (285 men) from a community-based study. Mean age was 57.2 years. Serum Lp(a) levels were measured by an immunoturbidimetric assay. Tobit regression was used to determine the sex-specific association of Lp(a) levels with presence and quantity of CAC.


RESULTS
In women, Lp(a) was a significant predictor (P=0.0426) of presence and quantity of CAC after adjustment for age, hypertension status, waist circumference, presence of high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and history of smoking. In men, after adjusting for age, hypertension status, body mass index, presence of high LDL-C, and history of smoking, a positive interaction between Lp(a) and history of smoking (P=0.0387) was significantly associated with presence and quantity of CAC.


CONCLUSIONS
Sex-specific relationships between Lp(a) and CAC provide evidence supporting sex-specific risk factor profiling for CAD. In women, Lp(a) alone may be an independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis, while in men, Lp(a) may confer higher risk conditional on the presence and level of other risk factors. The role of Lp(a) in the prediction and pathogenesis of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis needs to be further elucidated.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 47104-3028, USA.
Andrea E
AE
Cassidy
Lawrence F
LF
Bielak
Iftikhar J
IJ
Kullo
George G
GG
Klee
Stephen T
ST
Turner
Patrick F
PF
Sheedy
Patricia A
PA
Peyser
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D017270:Lipoprotein(a)