LIPOPROTEIN(A) AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN ADULT MEXICANS

A cross-epidemiologic study concerning cardiovascular risk factors in a random sample population of Mexico City was carried out in 1991 and 1992. Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels in 404 men and 311 women aged 20-9 0 years were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay on fasting plasma . Men and women showed similar age-adjusted Lp(a) values. For the whol e population the median Lp(a) was 6.9 mg/dL and the prevalence of high Lp(a) (> 30 mg/dL) was 14%. Small positive correlations between Lp(a) and plasma cholesterol (r(s) = 0.16) and low density lipoprotein chol esterol (LDL-C) (r(s) = 0.21), and a negative one with insulin (r(s) = -0.13) were found. In a multiple regression analysis, insulin and LDL -C were the variables that best explained the variation of Lp(a) in ou r sample. Our data show that Lp(a) in our population is similar to tha t found in other populations. An association of Lp(a) with myocardial infarction was observed (high Lp(a) was seen in 33% of atherosclerotic individuals versus 14% in healthy subjects) but did not reach statist ical significance.