Ethnic Variation in Lipoprotein(a) Levels in the Kazakhstan Population
Bekbossynova M. Ivanova-Razumova T. Myrzakhmetova G. Andossova S. Kali A. Sailybayeva A. Saliev T.
September 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Journal of Clinical Medicine
2025#14Issue 17
Background: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a genetically determined lipoprotein that plays an independent role in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Ethnic differences in Lp(a) levels are well-documented, yet regional data from Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan, remain scarce. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study involving 3727 patients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent Lp(a) testing between January 2023 and June 2024. Participants were stratified by self-reported ethnicity and atherosclerosis status confirmed via coronary angiography. Lp(a) levels were analyzed using immunoturbidimetric assays. Results: Elevated Lp(a) levels (≥50 mg/dL) were identified in 19.6% of the total population. While Kazakhs exhibited a slightly higher prevalence of elevated Lp(a) compared to Russians, there were no statistically significant differences in Lp(a) levels across ethnic groups. ROC analysis revealed limited discriminatory power of Lp(a) for diagnosing atherosclerosis (AUC = 0.5464), although PRC analysis showed high sensitivity and precision in both Kazakh and Russian subgroups at lower thresholds. Conclusions: Despite modest ethnic variation in Lp(a) distribution, its predictive value for atherosclerosis remains limited as a standalone marker. These findings highlight the need for population-specific thresholds and support incorporating Lp(a) testing in broader cardiovascular risk assessment strategies in Central Asia.
atherosclerosis , biomarker , cardiovascular disease , ethnic differences , Kazakhstan , lipoprotein(a) , precision-recall curve , risk stratification , ROC analysis
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Heart Center, Corporate Fund “University Medical Center”, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Institute of Fundamental and Applied Medical Research, S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
Heart Center
Institute of Fundamental and Applied Medical Research
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