Lipoprotein(a) concentrations and cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease: Results from the German Chronic Kidney Disease study

Background

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a causal, genetically determined risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased CVD risk and elevated Lp(a) concentrations. Only a few studies on Lp(a) were performed in persons with mild-to-moderate CKD; none of them used genetic variants to explore potential causal associations.

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the association of measured and genetically predicted Lp(a) concentrations on prevalent and incident CVD events in the German Chronic Kidney Disease (GCKD) study.

Methods

The study included 5043 participants of European ancestry with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 30 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m² or an eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m² in the presence of overt albuminuria with a follow-up of 6.5 years.

Results

With each 10 mg/dL higher Lp(a) concentration, odds for prevalent CVD (1290 events) increased 1.065-fold (95%CI: 1.042–1.088, p < 0.001). The risk was significantly higher in patients with Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL but most pronounced in Lp(a) ≥70 mg/dL (odds ratio = 1.775 [1.409–2.231], p < 0.001) compared to Lp(a) <30 mg/dL. Each 10 mg/dL higher Lp(a) concentration and Lp(a) ≥70 mg/dL increased the risk for incident 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (474 events): hazard ratio [HR] = 1.037 [1.009–1.067], p = 0.009 and HR = 1.335 [1.001–1.781], p = 0.050), respectively. Similar results were obtained for 4-point MACE (653 events). Analyses based on apo(a) isoforms and genetically predicted Lp(a) concentrations led to even stronger associations.

Conclusions

In patients with mild-to-severe CKD, elevated Lp(a) concentrations and genetic determinants of Lp(a) concentrations are significantly associated with CVD at baseline and during follow-up, independent of traditional risk factors.