(Press-News.org) DALLAS, July 23, 2025 — Elevated lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a), is an independent, inherited and causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death and disability worldwide.[1] Lp(a) is similar to low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, yet is caused by genetics and is not impacted by lifestyle modifications.
While it is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans have high Lp(a) levels, many people are not aware of their risk. Research has found less than 1% of people with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries, are tested for Lp(a).[2]
The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, has launched the Lp(a) Community Health Centers Discovery Project, supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, to increase awareness about Lp(a). Additionally, the initiative will focus on improving shared decision making between health care professionals and individuals within community health centers (CHCs) on the importance of Lp(a) screening and ASCVD risk management.
“A simple, one-time Lp(a) test can give lifelong insight about overall heart disease risk — especially for people with a family history or who are otherwise at increased risk,” said Kaavya Paruchuri, M.D., American Heart Association volunteer and clinical operations director of the cardiovascular medicine section and director of the Lipid Apheresis Unit, Preventive Cardiology, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “Community health centers are vital for making this important tool available to more people and helping individuals take control of their heart health.”
Ten CHCs throughout the U.S. signed onto the project in 2024, and 10 additional sites will be added this year. So far, participating CHCs have successfully added new Lp(a) screening processes resulting in increased testing at the sites. This reflects strong momentum for expanding Lp(a) testing access.
Current participating CHCs include:
Bay Area Community Health in Fremont, California
Bee Busy Wellness Center in Houston
Capital Area Health Network in Richmond, Virginia
El Centro Family Health in Española, New Mexico
Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers in Columbus, Ohio
Lone Star Family Health Center in Conroe, Texas
Southwest Community Health Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Spring Branch Community Health Center in Houston
The Chautauqua Center in Dunkirk, New York
Westside Family Health Center in Culver City, California
In 2023, the American Heart Association launched an initiative called the Lp(a) Discovery Project to improve the number of patients screened for Lp(a) through professional and patient education. This initiative gathered insights from 10 health systems across the country who have established Lp(a) testing processes. Lessons learned from this initiative will be used to drive improvements across CHCs participating in the Lp(a) Discovery Community Health Centers Project.
Studies have shown that elevated Lp(a) increases risk for ASCVD-related events such as aortic stenosis, heart attack, peripheral artery disease and stroke.[3] Although treatment options for high Lp(a) are limited, some lifestyle changes and medication therapies can assist with lowering a person’s overall risk for heart disease.
A baseline survey conducted as part of the Lp(a) Discovery Project found few U.S. adults are aware of Lp(a), which is accompanied by lack of concern and urgency to have levels checked. U.S. adults are not linking elevated Lp(a) to cardiovascular risk, but when they do, it motivates them to talk to their doctor. Health care professionals are the top source of Lp(a) awareness; their recommendation and personal experience is key to considering getting Lp(a) levels checked.
Community Health Centers can express interest in participating in this initiative by completing the form at heart.org/LpaDiscovery. The deadline is August 15.
Additional Resources:
Clinicians’ Guide to Frequently Asked Questions About Lipoprotein(a) Testing
Researchers: win up to $40K studying effects of lipoprotein(a) on cardiovascular disease, stroke risk | American Heart Association
Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews
###
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
END
Screening for cardiovascular disease marker in community health centers may reduce risk
New American Heart Association initiative, supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, aims to drive awareness, shared decision making around elevated lipoprotein(a), a genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease
2025-07-23
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Watermarks offer no defense against deepfakes
2025-07-23
New research from the University of Waterloo’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute demonstrates that any artificial intelligence (AI) image watermark can be removed, without the attacker needing to know the design of the watermark, or even whether an image is watermarked to begin with.
As AI-generated images and videos became more realistic, citizens and legislators are increasingly concerned about the potential impact of “deepfakes” across politics, the legal system and everyday life.
“People want a way ...
Pusan National University researchers investigate how air pollution triggers immune imbalance and lung damage
2025-07-23
Air pollution is a global health concern, with over 90% of the world’s population breathing air that exceeds World Health Organization safety standards. Fine and coarse particulate matter are especially dangerous, as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. While the link between air pollution and respiratory diseases is well established, how these pollutants disrupt immune responses in the lungs has remained unclear.
In a recent study, a team of researchers led by Professor Changwan Hong from Pusan National University ...
New study validates insulin nasal spray to deliver Alzheimer’s drug directly to the brain
2025-07-23
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., July 23, 2025 — A groundbreaking brain imaging study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine confirms a vital step toward new Alzheimer’s disease treatments: Intranasal insulin, delivered via a simple nasal spray, safely and effectively reaches key memory regions of the brain in older adults. The study also revealed that people with early cognitive decline absorb it differently.
This research, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, describes the ...
Hidden in plain sight: A century-old museum specimen turns out to be a landmark in evolution
2025-07-23
In a twist worthy of a detective novel, a long-misidentified fossil at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) has emerged as a key discovery in early animal evolution. Originally described in 1865 as a caterpillar, Palaeocampa anthrax shuffled between classifications—worm, millipede, and eventually a marine polychaete—until 130 years later, when researchers realized its true identity: the first-known nonmarine lobopodian and the earliest one ever discovered.
Lobopodians are extinct, soft-bodied creatures that bridge the evolutionary gap between a primitive worm-like ancestor and modern ...
People with substance use disorder were 24% more likely to require unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days of previous discharge
2025-07-23
People with any type of substance use disorder (SUD) stand a 24% higher risk of having an unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days of a previous discharge compared with those without the disorder, new UCLA-led research finds.
People with opioid use disorder had the highest 30-day readmission rates, at nearly 40%, the researchers found. Overall, people with SUDs comprise a disproportionate share of patients with multiple unplanned readmissions.
The higher risk was true only for people with substance use disorders who were discharged to homes without having been provided with post-acute care, said study co-author Steven Shoptaw, director of the Center for ...
New study brings vaccine hopes for deadly Nipah virus
2025-07-23
Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have taken a major step forward in tackling one of the world’s most dangerous viruses, the Nipah virus, by evaluating vaccine candidates for pigs.
The Nipah virus is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Originating in Old World fruit bats, the virus primarily affects pigs and humans.
The virus was first identified during a major outbreak in 1998-99 in Malaysia which led to the culling of nearly half the country's pig population and resulted in significant economic losses.
Since then, the virus has continued to cause outbreaks in South and Southeast ...
Can a compound produced by deep-sea bacteria treat cancer?
2025-07-23
Promoting pyroptosis—an inflammatory form of programmed cell death—has become a promising treatment strategy for cancer. In research published in The FASEB Journal, investigators purified a long-chain sugar molecule, or exopolysaccharide, from deep-sea bacteria and demonstrated that it triggers pyroptosis to inhibit tumor growth.
The compound, called EPS3.9, consists of mannose and glucose and is produced by the Spongiibacter nanhainus CSC3.9 bacterial strain and other members of the genus ...
How does infection with respiratory syncytial virus affect the health of older adults?
2025-07-23
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a well-known cause of infections in children, but it’s understudied in older individuals. In a retrospective study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, adults aged 65 and older hospitalized for RSV in Ontario, Canada experienced significantly higher rates of adverse outcomes such as longer length of hospital stay, transfer to intensive care, and 30-day mortality, compared with patients hospitalized with influenza, urinary tract infection, or fracture.
Interestingly, RSV hospitalization was also associated with higher rates of heart failure and atrial fibrillation up to 1-year post-discharge, regardless ...
Will implantable brain-computer interfaces soon benefit people with motor impairments?
2025-07-23
A review published in Advanced Science highlights the evolution of research related to implantable brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs), which decode brain signals that are then translated into commands for external devices to potentially benefit individuals with impairments such as loss of limb function or speech.
A comprehensive systematic review identified 112 studies, nearly half of which have been published since 2020. Eighty iBCI participants were identified, mostly participating in studies concentrated in the United States, but with growing numbers of studies from Europe, China, and Australia.
The ...
Can certain fungi boost the micronutrient content of bread wheat?
2025-07-23
New research in Plants, People, Planet indicates that bread wheat’s micronutrient content can be increased by cultivating it with a specific type of fungus.
When investigators grew different types of wheat with and without the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, they observed that crops grown with fungi developed larger grains with greater amounts of phosphorus and zinc. The higher amount of phosphorus in the grain did not result in an increase in phytate (a compound that can hinder digestion of zinc and iron). As a result, bread wheat grown with fungi had higher bioavailability of zinc and iron overall compared ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Lizard genetics provide new perspective on evolution
Can a Stevia-derived sweetener improve hair loss treatment?
Method to assess the status of wild reindeer may help with conservation efforts
Do imported cut flowers spread livestock viruses?
Does prior incarceration contribute to poor health later in life?
Could slime mold microbes be a source of potent antimicrobials?
Record-breaking 2024 Amazon fires drive unprecedented carbon emissions and ecosystem degradation
Birds thrive despite pollution from ‘forever’ chemicals
Deadwood brings wild orchids to life
Changes in gut microbiota influence which patients get AIG-related neuroendocrine tumors
Medicaid expansion linked to improved long-term survival in cancer patients
Women with surgical menopause may exit workforce earlier, but hormone therapy could help
Trailblazing Young Scientists honored with $250,000 prizes at Blavatnik National Awards Gala
Revolutionary blood test for ME / Chronic Fatigue unveiled
Calorie labelling linked to 2% average reduction in energy content of menu items
Widely prescribed opioid painkiller tramadol not that effective for easing chronic pain
Exercise snacks may boost cardiorespiratory fitness of physically inactive adults
15,000 women a year with breast cancer could benefit from whole genome sequencing, say researchers
Study highlights risks of Caesarean births to future pregnancies
GLP-1 agonists pose emerging challenge for PET-CT imaging, study finds
Scripps Research scientists unlock new patterns of protein behavior in cell membranes
Panama Canal may face frequent extreme water lows in coming decades
Flash Joule heating lights up lithium extraction from ores
COMBINEDBrain and MUSC announce partnership to establish biorepository for pediatric cerebrospinal fluid and CNS tissue bank
Questionable lead reporting for drinking water virtually vanished after Flint water crisis, study reveals
Assessing overconfidence among national security officials
Bridging two frontiers: Mitochondria & microbiota, Targeting Extracellular Vesicles 2025 to explore game-changing pathways in medicine
New imaging tech promises to help doctors better diagnose and treat skin cancers
Once dominant, US agricultural exports falter amid trade disputes and rising competition
Biochar from invasive weed shields rice from toxic nanoplastics and heavy metals
[Press-News.org] Screening for cardiovascular disease marker in community health centers may reduce riskNew American Heart Association initiative, supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, aims to drive awareness, shared decision making around elevated lipoprotein(a), a genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease