Early tests may reduce risk of adverse outcomes

"It is possible for individuals with healthy lifestyles to have high Lp(a) levels," Dr Loh says. "They may not present with symptoms until they have a serious event such as a heart attack or stroke."

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Early detection through testing can lead to intervention to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.

She considers Lp(a) testing a priority for people with a history of heart attack, coronary artery disease or stroke; or those with a family history of premature onset of heart disease.

Lp(a) testing should also be a priority for people with a known family history of high Lp(a), or those with the inherited condition familial hypercholesterolemia.

CGH has been testing Lp(a) levels in patients with high cardiovascular risk since 2021, and since 2023 has tested Lp(a) in all patients admitted due to a heart attack.

WHEN DOCTORS INTRODUCE NEW TESTS

In June, researchers from the National University Hospital (NUH) and National University of Singapore (NUS) announced that a relatively inexpensive blood test—about $100—could indicate a woman's muscle mass and also predict it.

This would be useful for menopausal and post-menopausal women, who tend to experience loss of muscle.

The new test measures the ratio of creatinine to cystatin C in the blood, both compounds that are routinely tested to analyze kidney function.

Professor Yong Eu Leong, who leads the Integrated Women's Health Programme at NUH and the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, says: "The test helps the clinician screen for suspicion of weak muscles before using more expensive tests."