You can eat well, exercise, and have “normal” cholesterol — and still carry a hidden, inherited risk factor for heart disease that a standard cholesterol test doesn’t reveal. It’s called lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), and in 2026 it’s finally getting the attention it deserves.
Lipoprotein(a) is a cholesterol-carrying particle in your blood, similar to LDL (“bad” cholesterol) but with an added sticky protein that makes it especially prone to driving atherosclerosis (artery narrowing) and, in some people, aortic valve disease.
Crucially, your Lp(a) level is largely genetic — it’s set by your DNA, stays fairly stable throughout life, and isn’t much changed by diet or standard statins. Roughly 1 in 5 people have an elevated level and don’t know it.
What’s new in 2026: Updated international lipid guidelines released across 2025–2026 (including the European ESC/EAS and the new 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidaemia guideline) now recognise Lp(a) as an important, independent, risk-enhancing factor — and recommend measuring it at least once in every adult’s lifetime.
Because the level is genetically fixed, a single blood test usually tells you what you need to know for life. Australian data confirms testing rates remain low, so many people at risk are still being missed. Promising Lp(a)-lowering therapies are also advancing through late-stage trials, making it more worthwhile than ever to know your number.
Knowing you have a high Lp(a) doesn’t mean disaster — it means information you can act on. An elevated level is a signal to manage every other risk factor more aggressively: LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, smoking and weight. It’s especially worth testing if you have a family history of early heart disease, personal heart disease not explained by the usual factors, or raised cholesterol from a young age.
At Prime Cardiology on St Kilda Rd, Lp(a) and your full cardiovascular risk profile are interpreted by a specialist cardiologist, Dr Vahid Moosavi — turning a single number into a clear, personalised prevention plan, supported where needed by advanced imaging such as a calcium score or CTCA.
Ask your GP about an Lp(a) test, or call Prime Cardiology on (03) 9003 2510 to discuss a comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment in Melbourne.
Call (03) 9003 2510Disclaimer: General information only — not a substitute for personal medical advice. Please discuss testing and treatment with your doctor.
