Blood particle linked to highest artery disease risk at 70–100
The observational cohort included 20,723 adults aged 70–100; those with high levels of the cholesterol-carrying particle had the highest absolute risk.
Limit: Findings concern only people studied for prevention of a first cardiovascular event
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
An observational cohort study included 59,325 women and 48,597 men aged 20–100 from the Copenhagen General Population Study. Of these, 20,723 were aged 70–100. Researchers examined lipoprotein(a), a cholesterol-carrying blood particle, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which involves fatty deposits in arteries.
During a median follow-up of 12.5 years, 9,091 participants were diagnosed with the disease. Participants aged 70–100 with high lipoprotein(a) had the highest absolute risk. Hazard ratios, a measure of relative risk, ranged from 1.12 to 1.18 per 50 mg/dL higher lipoprotein(a) across age groups and sexes. These relative associations were similar across ages and sexes, while increases in disease incidence were highest in men.
Why it matters
The study addresses whether lipoprotein(a) remains a relevant cardiovascular risk marker in later life, when its relationship with disease risk has been unclear.
Caveats
This observational study cannot establish causation, and its findings concern people studied for prevention of a first cardiovascular event. The congress abstract did not specify units for its absolute incidence increases.
The paper
Lipoprotein(a) and cardiovascular disease in individuals aged 70-100 years
University of Oslo; Herlev and Gentofte Hospital
ESC Congress 2026 Abstract, Oct 26, 2026
Presented at ESC Congress 2026