04/27/2026
Provider Insights
Practical guidance to enable confident diagnostic decisions
Are you underestimating cardiovascular risk?
In most primary care settings, LDL-C remains the go-to marker for assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. But here’s the challenge:
Many patients who experience cardiac events have normal LDL-C levels.
So what’s missing?
Apolipoprotein B (apoB) offers a more complete picture.
ApoB measures the number of atherogenic particles—not just the cholesterol they carry—making it a stronger indicator of cardiovascular risk.
Elevated apoB levels are associated with significantly higher CVD risk—even when LDL-C appears controlled.
ApoB identifies individuals who have
a 50% higher risk of myocardial
infarction compared to expectations
of LDL-C testing.2
In fact, relying on LDL-C alone can underestimate risk, especially in patients with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, or elevated triglycerides.
What this means for your patients:
If apoB isn’t part of your testing strategy, you may be missing early warning signs—and opportunities for prevention.
Early detection leads to better outcomes.
Learn more about how apoB testing can improve your clinical decision-making:
