Austin Medical Times
Page 9
High CAC, High Cholesterol Increase Heart Attack/Stroke Risk, UT Southwestern Cardiologists Find
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atients with both a high lipoprotein(a) and high coronary artery calcium score (CAC) face a more than 20% risk of heart attack or stroke over the following 10 years, according to findings from a multicenter study led by preventive cardiologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “We are hopeful that by making the connection between Lp(a) and CAC as dual risk drivers, we Parag Joshi, M.D., is a member of the Clinical Heart and can raise awareness in Cardiologist Vascular Center at UT Southwestern, which is ranked #11 in the nation the medical community and #1 in Texas for cardiology and heart surgery, according to U.S. News and improve earlier heart & World Report than with high LP(a) and high attack prevention for these CAC combined. patients,” said cardiologist Parag Joshi, The findings are online in the M.D., Associate Professor of Internal Journal of the American College of Medicine at UT Southwestern. “Our data may also expedite Cardiology (JACC) and will appear the development of treatments in the March print edition. Read more designed specifically for this high-risk at “What Can Lp(a) Add to CAC population,” said Dr. Joshi, a member for ASCVD Risk Prediction? New of the Clinical Heart and Vascular Insights” at TMTMD. “Establishing the connection Center at UT Southwestern, which is ranked #11 in the nation and #1 in between Lp(a) and CAC means we Texas for cardiology and heart surgery, can move to the important next phase according to U.S. News & World of research, which will be defining and personalizing early screening Report. Approximately one in six people protocols to identify patients at high in the U.S. have high Lp(a), a type of risk of heart attack,” said Dr. Joshi, bad cholesterol whose levels are driven whose research focuses on assessing largely by one’s genes. Coronary artery risk for heart attack and stroke, calcium, known as CAC, is a marker CAC, cholesterol, and coronary CT angiography. “With further research, of plaque deposits around the heart. The team of researchers, which this could mean selectively scanning included researchers from Emory patients with high Lp(a) for their University, found that participants CAC score, and studying therapies with combined high Lp(a) and high specifically designed to reduce Lp(a) CAC had a 22% 10-year risk of heart among patients with high CAC.” Cardiology researchers attack or stroke, compared with a 10-15% 10-year risk in patients who confirmed the Lp(a) and CAC connection by comparing data from had either risk factor alone. Investigators identified three two landmark cardiovascular trials: • The Dallas Heart Study, an distinct risk-related trends: ongoing comprehensive study of • High Lp(a), high CAC: These 6,000 diverse and heart-healthy individuals face the highest patients conducted by UT 10-year risk of heart attack or Southwestern from 2000 to stroke. present • High Lp(a), zero CAC: 10-year Study of heart attack and stroke risk is low • Multi-Ethnic Atherosclerosis (MESA): when there is no CAC, even if A 6,000-participant study Lp(a) is high. investigating early-stage • Low Lp(a), high CAC: 10-year atherosclerosis (hardening of the heart attack or stroke risk is higher than average but lower arteries). austinmedtimes.com
March 2022
