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Risk Factors in Coronary Artery Disease

Review Features

LDL subparticles are a non-standard independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. LDL subparticle tests should be performed on individuals at risk for primary or secondary coronary heart disease (CHD) and for those with familial disorders associated with coronary heart disease. This patient has not yet experienced a cardiovascular event.

The LDL subparticle test helped diagnose the risk for myocardial infarction when his total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were within normal limits. His other blood tests appeared within normal limits and his condition would have gone undetected until he started experiencing symptoms.

It is important to detect the risk of coronary atherosclerosis at an early stage and to treat the patient with inexpensive interventions like diet restriction, aerobic exercise, healthy lifestyle, stress reduction technique (e.g. meditation and biofeedback) and disease prevention.

Questions to be considered:

1. What is atherosclerosis?
2. Describe modifiable and non-modifiable cardiac risk factors.
3. Identify biochemical cardiac risk factors.
4. What are LDL subparticles? Why are individuals with small dense particles at higher risk for developing CAD?