Hidden Heart Risk: Expert Urges Scotland to Expand New Health Checks for Million at Risk

A leading cardiology professor is urgently calling for NHS Scotland to include a simple, one-off blood test for elevated Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), in its recently launched national health checks, potentially safeguarding a million Scots from a hidden, inherited risk of early heart disease. Professor Lis Neubeck of Edinburgh Napier University, who personally discovered she carries elevated Lp(a) in April, highlights that one in five Scots remains unaware of this critical genetic marker that dramatically increases their risk of heart attack and stroke. Her plea comes just days after the Scottish Government rolled out its 'Healthy Heart and Lung Checks,' which currently overlook this significant inherited risk factor. Lp(a) is an inherited blood particle that causes early cardiovascular disease and blocked arteries, a risk factor independent of traditional cholesterol levels. While often overlooked, major international bodies are shifting their stance; the European Atherosclerosis Society recommended Lp(a) testing four years ago, and in a significant move this March, a new US guideline (the ACC/AHA/Multisociety Dyslipidemia Guideline) advised universal screening for all adults. Experts emphasize that identifying high Lp(a) is crucial because it can double or even triple an individual's risk of a heart attack, even in those with otherwise healthy lifestyles. The urgent call from Professor Neubeck places immediate pressure on NHS Scotland to reassess the scope of its new preventative health program. With emerging Lp(a)-lowering therapies, including promising gene-silencing drugs like Kylo-11 showing significant reductions in recent trials, early detection becomes even more vital for future treatment strategies. The debate now centers on whether Scotland will align with international best practices and integrate this crucial, yet currently missing, test to avert preventable cardiovascular events across its population.