Hidden killer

Researchers say free testing is needed for a little-known marker of heart-disease risk.

- NICKY PELLEGRINO

Most adults have regular blood tests to track cholesterol and triglyceride levels as part of heart disease prevention. However, there is another blood marker that isn't commonly measured which many people may be unaware of.

Lipoprotein (a) is a fatty particle that circulates in the blood and deposits cholesterol in the arteries contributing to plaque formation. There has been research linking high levels of it to a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Genetics determine how high your lipoprotein (a) is and it remains consistent over a lifetime, aside from an increase for women during the menopause transition. Lifestyle makes no difference and until recently the argument for not screening has been that there are no drugs to lower levels if they are found to be high. But now, effective treatments are on their way and that view is starting to change.

Zanfina Ademi, a health economist at Melbourne's Monash University, is part of an international taskforce working towards making screening for lipoprotein (a) standard practice and equitable.