Elevated Lipoprotein (a) and 10-Year Risk of Cardiovascular Disease among Iranian Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine the elevated lipoprotein (a) level and 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease among patients with bipolar disorder.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with bipolar disorder in Yazd province, Iran. Elevated lipoprotein (a) concentration was defined as the lipoprotein (a) level of greater than 30 Mg/dL. The Framingham risk equation was used to estimate the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease. The data were analyzed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and independent sample-t or Mann-Whitney test. Statistical significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.

In this study, 75 male (75%) and 25 female (25%) patients with bipolar disorder were investigated. Based on the findings, smoking was significantly more prevalent among men than women (p <0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed between males and females with regard to the total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, and lipoprotein (a) (p>0.05). High levels of lipoprotein (a) were observed in 41% of the participants. Most individuals (77.3%) were at low risk for developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years.

The findings suggest a high level of lipoprotein (a) among patients with bipolar disorder. Most participants were at a low risk for developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years. Psychiatrists and health professionals should be informed about cardiovascular risk factors in bipolar patients and monitor them regularly for early detection.