Better Blood Tests to Predict Heart Disease Risk
Summary: New research shows that measuring apoB and lipoprotein(a) levels provides a much clearer prediction of heart disease risk than standard cholesterol tests. This could revolutionize early detection and prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease.
Did you know cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide?
The good news: early detection through advanced blood tests could change that.
The study found out how measuring apoB and lipoprotein(a) levels can give a much clearer picture of heart health than the standard cholesterol test and why this could revolutionize prevention.
Early Detection: The Secret to Beating Heart Disease
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) claim more lives than any other condition globally. Yet, many of these cases could be prevented simply by addressing risk factors like
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Inactivity
The key? Catching the risk early, and that’s where better blood testing comes in.
“This is the largest study of its kind to date, and the results show for the first time the relative importance of the three major families of lipoprotein for the potential risk of heart disease,” shares Jakub Morze, lead author and postdoctoral fellow at Chalmers.
Good Cholesterol vs. Bad Cholesterol: A Quick Refresher
Cholesterol is essential for building cells and making hormones, but too much can be dangerous. When excess cholesterol builds up inside blood vessel walls, it forms plaques. If these plaques rupture, they can trigger clots, causing
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
Inside your bloodstream, cholesterol travels in particles called lipoproteins.
- Bad cholesterol particles (with apolipoprotein B or apoB) can clog arteries.
- Good cholesterol particles help remove cholesterol from the blood and are protective.
Understanding this difference is crucial, especially as we rethink how we assess heart disease risk.
Why Cholesterol Numbers Alone Aren't Enough Anymore
Traditionally, doctors estimate your heart disease risk based on the amount of cholesterol in your blood. But cholesterol doesn’t float around on its own, it needs carriers (lipoproteins) to move.
“It was previously unclear if two patients with the same total level of ‘bad cholesterol,’ but different carrier characteristics, have the same heart disease risk,” explains Jakub Morze.
“So, the aim of this study was to determine the importance of these different parameters.”
ApoB: A Game-Changer in Heart Disease Risk Prediction
Researchers studied blood samples from over 200,000 people in the UK Biobank, tracking them for up to 15 years. They found that measuring apoB particle count, the number of bad cholesterol carriers, was the strongest predictor of future heart attacks.
Key findings were validated with a second Swedish study, ensuring solid proof.
“We found that apoB is the best marker when testing for risk of heart disease,” says Morze.
“Standard cholesterol tests are generally effective, but in about 1 in 12 patients, they may underestimate risk. Since 20–40% of first-time heart disease events are fatal, getting more accurate risk predictions through apoB testing could save lives.”
Don’t Overlook Lipoprotein(a): The Silent Threat
The ‘apoB’ levels dominate the heart risk conversation, researchers also stress the importance of testing for lipoprotein(a), another “bad” lipoprotein.
- Lipoprotein(a) levels are mostly inherited and make up less than 1% of the bad cholesterol particles. But in certain people, they can be extremely high, seriously increasing heart disease risk.
- Currently, many people don’t even know they have elevated lipoprotein(a) levels, making early testing even more vital.
The Future of Heart Health Screening Is Here
“Our results indicate that apoB particle count could eventually replace standard cholesterol tests in healthcare worldwide, and that lipoprotein(a) should also be tested,” says Clemens Wittenbecher, Assistant Professor of Precision Medicine and Diagnostics at Chalmers.
The best part? Blood tests for apoB and lipoprotein(a) are
- Already available
- Affordable
- Easy to implement
This simple shift in testing could mean earlier interventions and countless lives saved.
Conclusion: Small Test, Big Impact
Early detection is the key to preventing deadly heart diseases.
- By moving beyond basic cholesterol checks and measuring apoB and lipoprotein(a), doctors can better predict and prevent heart attacks and strokes.
- These blood tests are now easily accessible, and a revolution in heart health is closer than ever.
Dane
I am an MBBS graduate and a dedicated medical writer with a strong passion for deep research and psychology. I enjoy breaking down complex medical topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content, aiming to educate and inspire readers by exploring the fascinating connection between health, science, and the human mind.
