Diadexus, Inc. announced a poster presentation at the 2015 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions taking place November 7-11, 2015 in Orlando, FL. This poster presents data from a case cohort study within the larger REGARDS study. The study includes a random cohort sample of 3,719 patients derived from the 23,019 REGARDS participants who were free from stroke and CVD at baseline in 2003-2007.

The purpose of the study was to assess the association between LpPLA2 activity, as measured using Diadexus' proprietary LpPLA2 activity (PLAC(r) Activity) test, and risk of CVD. Acute CHD during complete follow-up through December 31, 2010 was adjudicated by an expert committee and defined as definite or probable myocardial infarction (MI) not resulting in death within 28 days, or fatal acute CHD. LpPLA2 activity was dichotomized at the 80th percentile of gender-specific activity: 250 nmol/ml/min for men and 200 nmol/ml/min for women.

565 cases of acute CHD were available for analysis. After controlling for race, age, sex, statin use, income, education, lipid profile, hypertension, diabetes, and history of smoking, elevated LpPLA2 activity was associated with increased risk of CVD (HR=1.52; 95% CI). The increased risk was consistent across all demographic and risk categories, and was observed even in participants deemed to have a low risk of CVD as defined by the Framingham Risk Function.