Background and hypothesis: Lipoprotein(a) may play a part in the development of coronary heart disease. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate lipoprotein(a) as a predictor of major coronary events (fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction and sudden death).
Methods: This was a prospective study of 118 men, aged 56 to 77 years, with treated hypertension and at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor (hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, or smoking) were included in the study. Lipoprotein(a) was measured at entry and major coronary events were followed during follow-up.
Results: The mean observation time was 3.0 years. Fourteen patients had a major coronary event during the follow-up period. Subjects with coronary heart disease (previous myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, or major electrocardiographic changes) at entry (n = 27) had significantly higher lipoprotein(a) levels than subjects without (n = 91) known coronary heart disease (p < 0.05). Lipoprotein(a) was a significant predictor for major coronary events (p = 0.033). Furthermore, when coronary disease at entry was included into the Cox regression analysis, lipoprotein(a) was an independent predictor for major coronary events (p = 0.044).
Conclusions: Among treated hypertensive men, lipoprotein(a) was an independent predictor of major coronary events.