A new study indicates that measuring apolipoprotein B could help prevent more heart attacks and strokes than the standard LDL cholesterol test used by millions of Americans.
Researchers at Northwestern University modeled outcomes for 250,000 adults eligible for statin therapy. They compared three strategies for intensifying treatment when targets were missed: LDL below 100 mg/dL, non-HDL below 118 mg/dL, and ApoB below 78.7 mg/dL.
The ApoB approach prevented more cardiovascular events and proved cost-effective for U.S. healthcare payers, according to the analysis published in JAMA. Lead author Ciaran Kohli-Lynch noted that the test counts harmful particles more directly than conventional measures.
The findings arrive as updated guidelines encourage earlier cholesterol-lowering therapy. Coauthors included John Wilkins and Samuel Luebbe. The study received support from the American Heart Association.
