health · 3 outlets · 3 linked reports
A Rarely Used Cholesterol Test Could Prevent More Heart Attacks, Study Finds
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Summary
- A Northwestern Medicine study finds apoB — a blood test measuring the number of harmful cholesterol-carrying particles — outperforms standard LDL testing for deciding who needs intensive treatment.
- Using apoB to guide therapy would prevent more heart attacks and strokes while representing good value for US healthcare payers, researchers say.
- Unlike LDL, apoB counts the total number of plaque-forming particles in the blood.
- New 2026 dyslipidemia guidelines acknowledge apoB may better reflect risk but stop short of making it the primary treatment target.
The question
apoB testing should replace standard LDL as the primary cholesterol risk measure.
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