Millions may be getting the wrong cholesterol test
New research suggests that measuring apolipoprotein B (apoB) is more effective than standard LDL cholesterol tests for predicting heart attack and stroke risk. The study indicates that this approach is both more accurate and cost-effective for healthcare systems.
Why it matters
Adopting this testing method could lead to more precise cardiovascular treatments and better patient outcomes for millions of Americans.
Millions of Americans have a blood test every year to measure LDL, often called "bad" cholesterol. But new research from Northwestern Medicine suggests that another test may do a better job of identifying who needs more aggressive treatment to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The article reports on scientific findings from a peer-reviewed study without political or ideological framing.
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