Abstract
AIMS: Both lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and peripheral artery disease (PAD) are associated with ischaemic events. We sought to assess the association between Lp(a) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major lower extremity events (MALE) among patients with baseline PAD.
METHODS AND RESULTS: The Mass General Brigham (MGB) Lp(a) registry includes all individuals with Lp(a) measured at two tertiary care centres from 2000 to 2019. Those with PAD were grouped according to Lp(a) percentile: 1st-25th [Q1, Lp(a) ≤ 14 nmol/L], 26th-50th (Q2, 14-<42 nmol/L), 51st-75th (Q3, 42-<132 nmol/L), and 76th-100th (Q4, 132-855 nmol/L). Outcomes were MACE [composite of cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization] and MALE (composite of peripheral revascularization, acute limb ischaemia, or major lower extremity amputation). Cox proportional hazard modelling was used to assess the association between Lp(a) and the outcomes of interest after adjusting for traditional risk factors. Among 3757 individuals with PAD [39% female, median age 68 (IQR: 58-77)], individuals with Lp(a) levels in the third and fourth quartiles had a 24 and 30% increased hazard of MACE, respectively [adj. hazard ratio (HR): 1.24, P = 0.005; adj. HR: 1.30, P = 0.001] when compared with those in the first quartile. Individuals in the fourth quartile had a 19% greater hazard of MALE (adj. HR: 1.19, P = 0.043).
CONCLUSION: Elevated Lp(a) in patients with PAD was associated with an increased risk of both MACE and MALE. Accordingly, measurement of Lp(a) may convey important prognostic value and allow for further risk stratification within this high-risk population.