[Lipoprotein(A) distribution among adults and its relation to the incidence of coronary artery disease in Changsha City].

The plasma lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels were determined among 593 adults in Changsha city, Hunan province. The result showed that the distribution of Lp(a) levels in all the individuals was a skewness which can be normalized by data transformation into logarithm. Plasma Lp (a) concentration > 300 mg.L-1 was 34.8% in 209 subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 17.3% in 305 health controls (P < 0.01). The Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in subjects with CAD than in health controls. Multiple regression stepwise analysis found that Lp(a) levels were positively correlated with CAD. This study indicates that plasma levels of Lp(a) are strongly related to CAD and may be an important independent risk factor for CAD.