(March 19, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Taken together, nine small genetic variations that each have a small impact on LDL and HDL cholesterol levels can help predict an individuals' risk for a cardiovascular event, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here are some facts about cholesterol levels and risk for cardiovascular events:

•    While there are several risk factors for cardiovascular events, including smoking status, age, gender, and high blood pressure, cholesterol level remains one of the most important.

•    The higher your risk for a cardiovascular event, the lower your doctor will want your cholesterol to be.

•    Losing weight and increasing physical activity can help improve cholesterol levels, but for some people medication is also a necessity.

In a study involving over 5,000 adults, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital looked at whether combining information on nine small genetic variations that had each individually been shown to be linked with LDL and HDL cholesterol levels could help predict the risk for cardiovascular events. They developed a genotype score that increased every time a genetic variation known to have an unfavorable effect on cholesterol levels was found.

After a follow-up period of just over ten years, 238 of the patients experienced their first cardiovascular event. The genotype score did help predict who would have such an event, but no more effectively than calculations based on known clinical risk factors for heart disease. The genotype score did, however, help more accurately classify patients at "high risk", "moderately high risk", "moderate risk", or "low risk" for a cardiovascular event.

Today's research highlights the predictive value of using genetic information known to affect cholesterol levels to help predict the risk for a cardiovascular event.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Essie Heinrich.