We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Lipid Levels from Non-Fasting Patients Deemed Suitable for Assessing CVD Risk

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 04 Jun 2019
Print article
Image: A new study suggests fasting may not be necessary to ensure accurate test results when assessing CVD risk (Photo courtesy of Harvard Medical School).
Image: A new study suggests fasting may not be necessary to ensure accurate test results when assessing CVD risk (Photo courtesy of Harvard Medical School).
Results published in a recent paper suggested strongly that lipid levels measured in blood samples from non-fasting patients were accurate and predicative of future cardiovascular risk.

A team of investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston, MA, USA), Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA, USA), and Imperial College London (United Kingdom) sought to determine how non-fasting lipid levels compared with fasting lipid levels measured in the same individuals for assessing cardiovascular risk, and what was their association with incident cardiovascular events.

To this end they performed a secondary analysis of the results of a randomized clinical trial that included 8270 of 10,305 participants from the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial–Lipid Lowering Arm (ASCOT-LLA) with non-fasting and fasting lipid levels measured four weeks apart (including 6855 participants with no prior vascular disease). Data were collected from February 1, 1998, to December 31, 2002, and analyzed from February 1, 2016, to November 30, 2018.

Analysis of the results revealed that among the 8270 participants (82.1% male; mean age, 63.4 years), non-fasting samples had modestly higher triglyceride levels and similar cholesterol levels compared to fasting samples. Associations of non-fasting lipid levels with coronary events were similar to those for fasting lipid levels.

"We hope this study will be the final nail in the coffin, providing strong evidence that, within the same person, fasting or not before a lipid level test does not matter for predicting cardiovascular risk," said senior author Dr. Samia Mora, director of the center for lipid metabolomics at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "This should reassure health care providers and patients that it does not make a difference if you fast or do not fast if the goal is to predict your cardiovascular risk."

"We spend most of our lives in a non-fasting state. And for some patients, especially those who are elderly or have diabetes, it can be risky to fast before lipid testing," said Dr. Mora. "Health care providers held back because of concerns of variability within individuals, but the data here is so convincing. It should allow people to feel more comfortable with non-fasting lipid testing for cardiovascular risk assessment, including when taking a statin."

The paper was published in the May 28, 2019, online edition of the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

Related Links:
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Harvard Medical School
Imperial College London
Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
One Step HbA1c Measuring System
GREENCARE A1c
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
Gold Member
Reagent Reservoirs
Reagent Reservoirs

Print article

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.