A dangerous heart disease risk factor we thought stayed the same for life can actually spike during menopause.
Doctors have long believed that Lipoprotein(a) levels are determined by DNA and stay stable throughout life, but this study of 4,500 women reveals that the hormonal shift of menopause can trigger a surge in these levels nearly four times larger than expected. This discovery suggests that a single lifetime test isn't enough to assess heart risk for women.
Heterogeneity in Lipoprotein(a) Profile Changes Across the Menopausal Transition
medRxiv · 10.64898/2026.03.23.26349133
Introduction: Menopause may coincide with rising Lp(a) levels, a causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Characterizing changes in Lp(a) across menopause may inform risk stratification and testing recommendations. Methods: We examined changes in serum Lp(a) levels by menopausal status among women with Lp(a) measured at visits 1 and 2 in the UK Biobank. Lp(a) analyses were examined by menopausal status: those who underwent menopause (N=415), those who remained preme