Relationship between Lipoprotein(a) and cardiovascular risk factors—data from 4602 participants of the ELITE study

Abstract

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is becoming increasingly important as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Since no effective therapy currently exists other than lipid apheresis, the recommendation remains to optimally adjust all other cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). In a Northwest German population study, the frequency of elevated Lp(a) levels and all other CVRF was investigated. The aim was to investigate whether individuals with elevated Lp(a) levels were also more likely to have other CVRFs. To date, 4602 individuals have been enrolled in the study, and blood pressure, weight, lipids, diabetes, medications, and pre-existing conditions were recorded in addition to Lp(a). In addition, questionnaires assessed physical activity, psychological stress, depression, and brain dysfunction. All participants received detailed individual recommendation about their CVRF and its treatment. In the further follow-up of 5 years, it will be examined how persons with elevated Lp(a) implemented these recommendations in comparison with participants without elevated Lp(a). The first group Lp(a) <75 nmol/L consisted of 3550 (80.2%), the Lp(a) 75–120 nmol/L group of 341 (7.4%) and the Lp(a) >120 nmol/L of 538 (11.7%). 81.6% of all participants had one or more CVRF. Age, sex, and prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and exercise did not differ among the 3 groups. As expected, LDL-Cholesterol was significantly elevated in the Lp(a) >120 nmol/L group despite significantly more frequent use of statins. Significantly more often hypertensive patients were found in the Lp(a) >120 nmol/L group who were inadequately controlled by medication and significantly less often persons without further CVRF. No differences existed in the frequency of psychological stress, depression, and mild cognitive impairment. CVRF occur with comparable frequency in individuals with elevated Lp(a) levels. However, individuals with Lp(a) above 120 nmol/L were more likely to have poorly controlled blood pressure, elevated LDL-C, and less likely to have no other risk factors. This underlines that in case of Lp(a) elevation all further CVRF should be intensively adjusted, especially in case of strongly elevated values >120 nmol/L. However, these recommendations have not been adequately implemented in clinical care in this population to date.

Einfluss der Corona-Pandemie auf kardiovaskuläre Risikofaktoren – Daten von 1775 Teilnehmern der ELITE Studie vor und während der Corona Pandemie

“…Basis dieser Daten ist die ELITE-Studie (Ernährung, Lebensstil und individuelle Information zur Verhinderung von Herzinfarkt, Schlaganfall und Demenz, Ethikvotum Universität Göttingen: 18.09.2014, 34/6/14). Die Methodik wurde bereits an anderer Stelle publiziert und wird vor diesem Hintergrund nur kurz geschildert 8 9 10 11 12 13 . In der ELITE-Studie werden seit 2014 regelmäßige Untersuchungen bei derzeit über 5000 Teilnehmer*innen durchgeführt.…”

“…Allerdings ist die Datenlage zu den Veränderungen von kardiovaskulären Risikofaktoren sehr lückenhaft und beruht im Wesentlichen auf Umfragen. In der ELITE-Studie werden seit Jahren bei über 5000 Personen regelmäßige Kontrollen von Risikofaktoren und psychosozialen Parametern (Stress, Depressionen, Wohlbefinden, Ernährung, Hirnleistung, Bewegung) vorgenommen 8 9 . Deshalb wurden die Daten bei Teilnehmer*innen, die vor der Pandemie und erneut während der Pandemiejahre untersucht worden sind, ausgewertet.…”

Regular Exercise is Associated with a More Favorable Cardiovascular Risk Profile, Better Quality of Life, Less Depression and Less Psychological Stress

“…The methods of the ELITE study are described in detail elsewhere and will be repeated only briefly. [6][7][8] The invitation to participate in this prevention study was issued by the media, associations, companies and St.Josefs-Hospital Nephrology. Data collection is performed by interviews and examinations by trained teams (physician assistants, nurses/nurses, physicians) and by using standardized questionnaires completed by the participants.…”

“…Physical activity is also recorded in a detailed questionnaire. [6][7][8] The aim is to motivate more individuals to improve their risk profile through these individual recommendations and regular follow-up examinations. In the present paper, the data on physical activity are presented in correlation with the other data collected at baseline.…”

Health football beats them all: subgroup analysis of the 3F (Fit&Fun with Football) study on white coat hypertension, sustained hypertension, dippers, nondippers, and on pharmacologically un(treated) arterial hypertension

“…The aim of the ELITE study, itself a prospective cohort study, was to evaluate CVRF including psychosocial factors among over 5000 participants and to improve those through individualized written prevention recommendations based on a yearly follow-up. Study design and the most important data from the admission examinations have already been published [2,[7][8][9][10][11]. Male hypertensive patients at least 45 years of age who had been inactive in physical activity for several years were filtered out of this database.…”