Family Heart Foundation Study Demonstrates How the FIND Lp(a) Machine Learning Model Enables Targeted Lp(a) Screening

Published in JACC: Advances, Findings Show Individuals Identified by the FIND Lp(a) Model Were More Than Twice as Likely to Have High Lp(a)

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Family Heart Foundation, a leading research, education and advocacy organization, today announced the publication of a new peer-reviewed study in JACC: Advances demonstrating how its FIND Lp(a)^® Machine Learning Model can identify people with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) who are more likely to have high lipoprotein(a) — or Lp(a). The model has already been successfully deployed at five large U.S. healthcare systems participating in the FIND Lp(a) program that aims to catalyze Lp(a) screening. The model’s high level of precision supports targeted Lp(a) screening as a practical approach for healthcare systems working toward implementation of guideline-recommended universal screening.

The study, "FIND Lp(a) MLM: Targeted Screening Enrichment of Elevated Lipoprotein(a) in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease," describes the development and initial validation of the FIND Lp(a) Machine Learning Model using the Family Heart Database^®. Patients identified by the model were more than 2.2 times as likely to have high Lp(a) (≥ 125 nmol/L) as the overall population of people with ASCVD in the Family Heart Database, demonstrating the model's ability to help healthcare systems prioritize Lp(a) screening for patients most likely to have high Lp(a). Additional validation using retrospective and prospective healthcare systems data are currently ongoing.

“Although recently released U.S. dyslipidemia guidelines recommend Lp(a) screening for all adults, integrating this into routine clinical practice will take many years, if not decades,” said Diane MacDougall, vice president of Research at the Family Heart Foundation and principal author of the study. “The FIND Lp(a) model supports targeted screening by helping identify people most likely to have high Lp(a), accelerating the adoption of universal screening and creating more opportunities for individuals living with high Lp(a) and their healthcare teams to manage cardiovascular risk."

High Lp(a) is an independent, genetically determined risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Lp(a) awareness remains low across clinicians, health system administrators, payors, and the public. Despite evidence that 1 in 5 people have high Lp(a), 99% of people in the U.S. have never had their Lp(a) screened.

The FIND Lp(a) Machine Learning Model is a central component of the Family Heart Foundation's Flag, Identify, Network, and Deliver™ quality improvement program, which uses machine learning and data from electronic medical records to identify adults likely to have high Lp(a). Health care systems implementing the FIND Lp(a) program offer screening to individuals identified through the program; those found to have high Lp(a) receive care and are invited to engage with the Family Heart Foundation for additional education and support. Through its Collaborative Learning Network, the Foundation and five healthcare system partners are prospectively validating the real-world performance of the FIND Lp(a) Machine Learning Model while sharing best practices and developing sustainable approaches to Lp(a) screening and care. In a time when most machine learning model initiatives never reach successful deployment, the FIND Lp(a) MLM project represents a unique accomplishment in the practical application of machine learning and predictive analytics to clinical practice. For more information about FIND Lp(a) visit FamilyHeart.org/Find-Lpa.

About the Family Heart Foundation

The Family Heart Foundation^® is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization that receives contributions and sponsorships from individuals, foundations, and pharmaceutical companies. The FIND Lp(a) Initiative is supported by Novartis, although Novartis plays no role in program conduct. The Family Heart Foundation is a pioneer in the application of real-world evidence, patient-driven advocacy, and multi-stakeholder education to help prevent heart attacks and strokes caused by familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and elevated lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), two common genetic disorders that have an impact across generations. The Family Heart Foundation conducts innovative research to break down barriers to diagnosis and management of inherited lipid disorders; educates patients, providers, and policy makers; advocates for change; and provides hope and support for families impacted by heart disease and stroke caused by FH, HoFH, and elevated Lp(a). The organization was founded in 2011 as the FH Foundation. For more information, visit FamilyHeart.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.