Analysis of lipoprotein (a) determination in a selection of Spanish Clinical Laboratories. Batary study

Lipoprotein a is considered an independent factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with high prevalence, but the availability of real and updated data in Spain as well as determination protocols are limited.

Analyze the current state of the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical process of Lp (a) and assess the relationship with other variables.

Retrospective, observational, multicenter, anonymized study carried out in 2022 by survey of clinical laboratories.

21,926 determinations were obtained corresponding to 49 Laboratories. The values obtained were: Lp(a)>30mg/dl=46.87%, Lp(a)>50mg/dl 35.31%, Lp(a)>70mg/dl=26.8% Lp(a)>90mg/dl=19.3% with predominance of superiority in female gender in all established cut-off points. Almost 30% of primary care doctors do not have access to their application. 56.9% do not have a rejection criterion. 70.6% do not have protocols for its determination. There are two predominant analytical techniques, Immunophelometry (40%) and immunoturbidimetry (60%), 24% use nmon/L, 68% mg/dL and 8% report both.

There is a low number of patients who have Lp(a) measured and of them the percentage of patients according to risk cut-off points are higher than those described. There is a lack of uniformity in pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical processes in which it is necessary to work in a multidisciplinary manner to avoid future cardiovascular events.