Millions may be getting the wrong cholesterol test
News
A different cholesterol test may do a much better job of preventing heart attacks and strokes than the one millions of Americans get today.
– A new study suggests that apoB, a blood test that measures harmful cholesterol particles, is better than standard LDL cholesterol testing for deciding who needs more intensive treatment. Researchers found it could prevent more heart attacks and strokes while remaining cost-effective for the U.S. healthcare system.
Details
Millions of Americans have a blood test every year to measure LDL, often called “bad” cholesterol. But new research from Northwestern Medicine suggests that another test may do a better job of identifying who needs more aggressive treatment to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The study, published in JAMA, found that measuring apolipoprotein B (apoB) was more effective than tracking LDL or non HDL cholesterol when deciding whether to intensify cholesterol lowering therapy, including statins and other medications.
“We found that apoB testing to intensify cholesterol-lowering medication would prevent more heart attacks and strokes than current practice, and that these health benefits were achieved at a cost that represents good value for U.S. healthcare payers,” said study lead author Ciaran Kohli-Lynch, assistant professor of preventive medicine in the division of epidemiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Analysis
Kohli-Lynch said this is the first comprehensive analysis to show that using apoB to guide cholesterol treatment is also cost effective.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and is responsible for enormous healthcare spending. Over time, tiny cholesterol carrying particles can become trapped inside artery walls, where they build up into plaques that restrict blood flow and raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Why ApoB May Be a Better Measure of Heart Disease Risk
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