Here’s a breakdown of what the text tells us about lipoprotein(a), and why it’s vital, based on your provided excerpt:
What is Lipoprotein(a)?
* It’s a type of LDL cholesterol.
* It’s largely resolute by your genes.
* Its levels tend to be stable throughout life, unlike other cholesterol markers.
Why is it critically important?
* High levels are a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, etc.).
* Women with levels above 30 mg/dL had a substantially increased risk.
* Those with levels exceeding 120 mg/dL had a 54% to 74% higher risk of major cardiovascular events compared to those with levels below 11 mg/dL.
* Lifestyle changes and existing medications have limited impact on lipoprotein(a) levels.
* Despite its importance, current guidelines don’t consistently recommend screening for it.
