New Blood Test May Better Predict Heart Attack, Stroke Risk Than Standard Cholesterol Check

Millions of people annually check their cholesterol with a simple blood test, primarily relying on LDL, or "bad cholesterol," to guide treatment decisions. However, new research from Northwestern Medicine suggests this common approach may not provide a complete picture of cardiovascular risk.

Researchers have identified a different blood measurement, apolipoprotein B (apoB), which could more precisely pinpoint individuals who require more aggressive treatment to lower their risk of heart attack and stroke. While LDL cholesterol measures the amount of cholesterol within atherogenic particles, apoB counts the total number of these potentially harmful particles circulating in the blood.

"Research strongly indicates that apolipoprotein B is more effective at identifying at-risk individuals because it counts the total number of harmful particles in the blood," explained Ciaran Kohli-Lynch, the study's lead author and an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. This means two individuals with the same LDL level could have different apoB counts and, consequently, different cardiovascular risks.

The study, published in JAMA, utilized a computer model simulating the health outcomes of approximately 250,000 U.S. adults eligible for statin treatment but without existing cardiovascular disease. The model compared treatment strategies based on LDL targets, non-HDL targets, and apoB targets. The apoB-based strategy demonstrated superior long-term results, predicting fewer heart attacks and strokes compared to strategies relying solely on LDL or non-HDL cholesterol.

“

Research strongly indicates that apolipoprotein B is more effective at identifying at-risk individuals because it counts the total number of harmful particles in the blood.