TABLE 1.
Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of the ASCVD Population, Stratified by Normal and Elevated Lp(a) Concentration, at Baseline (Index)
| Characteristics | Normal Lp(a) (< 65 nmol/L) | Elevated Lp(a) (≥150 nmol/L) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total, n | 4,360 | 1,711 | |
| Age, mean (SD), years | 65.70 (12.12) | 65.24 (11.70) | 0.1967 |
| Sex, n (%) | |||
| Male | 2,202 (50.50) | 744 (43.48) | < 0.0001 |
| Female | 2,158 (49.50) | 967 (56.52) | |
| Health plan type, n (%) | |||
| Commercial | 1,547 (35.48) | 619 (36.18) | 0.5670 |
| Medicare | 2,811 (64.47) | 1,092 (63.82) | |
| Index ASCVD diagnosis, n (%) | |||
| MI, PAD, or IS | 3,107 (71.26) | 1,272 (74.34) | 0.0170 |
| MI | 943 (21.63) | 457 (26.71) | < 0.0001 |
| PAD | 1,999 (45.85) | 797 (46.58) | 0.6066 |
| IS | 818 (18.76) | 351 (20.51) | 0.1200 |
| TIA | 536 (12.29) | 174 (10.17) | 0.0210 |
| Unstable angina | 370 (8.49) | 161 (9.41) | 0.2666 |
| Stable angina | 998 (22.89) | 387 (22.62) | 0.8384 |
| Postrevascularization | 372 (8.53) | 180 (10.52) | 0.0172 |
| Index diagnosis not MI, PAD, or IS | 1,807 (41.44) | 660 (38.57) | 0.0421 |
| Procedures, n (%) | |||
| Dialysis | 44 (1.01) | 12 (0.70) | 0.2982 |
| Revascularization | 328 (7.52) | 154 (9.00) | 0.8914 |
| Baseline medications, n (%) | |||
| Statin | 1,871 (42.91) | 937 (54.76) | < 0.0001 |
| ACEIs/ARBs | 1,814 (41.61) | 729 (42.61) | 0.4878 |
| β-blockers | 1,191 (27.32) | 529 (30.92) | 0.0053 |
| Antiplatelets | 228 (5.23) | 108 (6.31) | 0.1047 |
| Fibrates | 216 (4.95) | 56 (3.27) | 0.0038 |
| Ezetimibe | 105 (2.41) | 73 (4.27) | 0.0002 |
| PCSK9i (alirocumab, evolocumab) | 2 (0.05) | 2 (0.12) | 0.3164 |
| None of the above treatments | 1,394 (31.97) | 445 (26.01) | < 0.0001 |
| Lp(a), median (Q1, Q3) | 23.00 (14.00, 39.00) | 221.00 (180.00, 291.00) | < 0.0001 |
| Laboratory values, mean (SD)a | |||
| LDL-C, mg/dL | 104.81 (37.39), n = 2,085 | 113.35 (41.23), n = 774 | < 0.0001 |
| HDL-C, mg/dL | 54.65 (18.25), n = 2,071 | 57.38 (17.70), n = 768 | 0.0004 |
| Total cholesterol, mg/dL | 186.64 (43.95), n = 2,088 | 197.24 (48.64), n = 781 | < 0.0001 |
| Triglycerides, mg/dL | 139.68 (88.30), n = 2,092 | 136.47 (114.59), n = 775 | 0.4806 |
| Hs-CRP, mg/L | 4.91 (14.63), n = 494 | 4.47 (6.26), n = 175 | 0.5859 |
| Baseline cardiovascular comorbidities, n (%)b | |||
| Hypertension | 3,165 (72.59) | 1,268 (74.11) | 0.2346 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 345 (7.91) | 119 (6.95) | 0.2171 |
| Cardiac amyloidosis | 5 (0.11) | 1 (0.06) | 1.0000 |
| Chronic kidney disease (stage III) | 372 (8.53) | 173 (10.11) | 0.0578 |
| Chronic kidney disease (stage IV-V) | 89 (2.04) | 30 (1.75) | 0.5371 |
| Heart failure | 334 (7.66) | 158 (9.23) | 0.0469 |
| Aortic valve stenosis | 232 (5.32) | 100 (5.84) | 0.4153 |
a This endpoint was identified in the baseline period (12 months before the index date, including the index date).
b This endpoint was identified any time before the index date, not including the index date.
ACEIs = angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; ARBs = angiotensin II receptor blockers; ASCVD = atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; HDL-C = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; hs-CRP = high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; IS = ischemic stroke; Lp(a) = lipoprotein(a); LDL-C = low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MI = myocardial infarction; PAD = peripheral artery disease; Q = quartile; TIA = transient ischemic attack.