According to a recent scientific statement gathered from American Heart Association, high levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] are known to be a separate, chiefly inherited and causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease, known to be the leading cause of death and disability around the world.
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It is evaluated that 1 in 5 Americans have high Lp(a) levels. Earlier performed studies have shown that elevated Lp(a)—a low-density lipoprotein variant consisting of a protein known as apolipoprotein(a)—is considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty material in artery walls) and related diseases, like stroke and coronary heart disease.
But there is no availability of standard management methods for risk or diagnosis assessment, nor any targeted treatments available to lower Lp(a).
Currently, on national Lp(a) Awareness Day, the American Heart Association launched a new project to gain better insights into the biological and genetic basis for changes in Lp(a) levels and its relationship to disease.
The Lp(a) Discovery Project, assisted by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, targets to identify clinical standards for improved patient care via a new screening measure and quality enhancement interventions for those having elevated Lp(a).
The Lp(a) Discovery Project will make use of a combined, patient-centered method to launch an Lp(a) screening measure. Also, by making use of the Association’s current Integrated ASCVD Management Initiative infrastructure, it is become possible to track and test it all over the country.
At present, the new measure will hire the six health systems involved in the ASCVD initiative, and also an extra 10 new sites, to test and pilot specific Lp(a) quality enhancement interventions.
Besides, the Association will launch a data challenge by giving an invite to the best scientists in the world to apply novel data science methods with huge genetic and clinical datasets to gain better insights into how Lp(a) levels impact stroke and cardiovascular risk.
Scientific discovery has determined that Lp(a) plays a role in the development of cardiovascular disease, however many questions still remain. This project is an important step to fill in knowledge gaps around Lp(a) and encourage better, more targeted treatments to reduce cardiovascular risk.”
Mariell Jessup, MD, FAHA, Chief Science and Medical Officer, American Heart Association
The three-year project performed will peak with nationally released education and knowledge to enhance patient care, as well as Lp(a) improvements to the Association’s Get With The Guidelines® platform, like extra data collection.
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