# Lipoprotein(a) and Lung Function Are Associated in Older Adults: Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Analyses

## TL;DR

Higher levels of lipoprotein(a) are linked to better lung function in older adults, but the connection is not confirmed by genetic analysis.

## Contribution

This study explores the association between lipoprotein(a) and lung function in older adults using longitudinal data.

## Key findings

- Higher Lp(a) levels were associated with increased FEV1 and FVC in both men and women.
- Mendelian randomization analyses did not support a causal link between Lp(a) and lung function.
- Observed differences in lung function parameters were considerable and potentially clinically relevant.

## Abstract

While numerous studies have confirmed a causal association between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and cardiovascular diseases, only a few studies have assessed the relationship between Lp(a) and pulmonary health, with inconsistent findings regarding this topic. This study’s aim was to examine whether levels of serum Lp(a) are associated with lung function in a dataset of relatively healthy older adults. We used longitudinal data collected at two time points 7.4 ± 1.5 years apart from 679 participants (52% women, 68 [65–71] years old) from the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II). Multiple linear regression models adjusting for covariates were applied to examine the association between Lp(a) and lung function. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) were higher in both men and women with higher Lp(a) levels. However, since this association between lung function parameters and Lp(a) was not supported by Mendelian randomization analyses using recent genome-wide association study data, these relationships should be investigated in future work, as the observed differences are, in part, considerable and potentially clinically relevant.