Amsterdam, 5 May 2025 – Today, during a packed session at the European Atherosclerosis Society Congress in Glasgow, the Brussels International Declaration on Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] Testing and Management was officially published in Atherosclerosis. With more than 250 attendees crowding into a standing-room-only space designed for 30, this launch marked a breakthrough moment in the fight against cardiovascular disease.
Elevated Lp(a) is an inherited, lifelong, and independent risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, aortic stenosis, and premature cardiovascular events. Affecting an estimated 1 in 5 people worldwide, more than 1.4 billion individuals, it remains dangerously underdiagnosed, with less than 2% of the population tested. This significant public health blind spot urgently demands international attention.
The Declaration was developed by the Lp(a) International Task Force (ITF), a multidisciplinary, multistakeholder group convened by the FH Europe Foundation and chaired by Professor Florian Kronenberg. The ITF aims to deliver an ambitious, five-year global strategy to make Lp(a) testing routine and ensure equitable management across populations. The work was shaped by scientific evidence, the lived experience of patients, and the political momentum generated at the first-ever Global Lp(a) Summit, held in Brussels in March 2025. The Summit was hosted by a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Romana JERKOVIĆ, Chair of the MEP Cardiovascular Health Group, and under the patronage of the Polish EU Presidency. The event, organised by FH Europe Foundation, brought together cardiovascular health organisations, scientific experts, patient ambassadors and policy makers from the European Union and World Health Organisation.
During the Summit the results of the first international cost-effectiveness study on Lp(a) testing were shared. The research commissioned by the patient organisation and led by Prof. Zanfina Ademi of Monash University, showed the clear economic and health system benefits of incorporating Lp(a) testing into standard care.
The Brussels International Declaration builds upon the 2022 EAS Consensus Statement on Lp(a) and directly supports the ambitions of the Council Conclusions on Cardiovascular Health, adopted by all EU health ministers on December 3rd, 2024. It arrives as Europe advances towards a dedicated Cardiovascular Health Plan, planned to be published later in 2025.
Accompanied by an editorial from renowned cardiovascular leaders (Professors Jan Borén, M. John Chapman, and Chris J. Packard), the Declaration outlines five urgent policy asks:
Transformational digital tools and ethical artificial intelligence are recognised as key enablers for the implementation of systematic Lp(a) testing and the effective, personalised management of elevated Lp(a) levels. In line with the commitments set out in the Brussels Int. Declaration, progress would be driven through cross-border shared learning, robust impact assessment, and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation on an annual basis.
"The Declaration is the result of truly global collaboration," said Prof. Florian Kronenberg, Chair of the ITF. "With science, policy, and patient voices aligned, we can shift from fixing damage to preventing it. This is the future of cardiovascular health."
MEP Romana JERKOVIĆ, Chair of the MEP Cardiovascular Health Group and Host of the Summit, said “I will be taking the Brussels International Declaration on Lp(a) to the MEP Cardiovascular Health Group and ask for their endorsement. The train has left the station, and it is imperative we act in this space”.
Prof. Florian Kronenberg added: “It is not only that the scientific evidence is overwhelming. Enormous monetary savings are possible by introducing a more systematic measurement of Lp(a) in combination with the other traditional risk factors followed by the appropriate preventive treatment. Thereby much of the associated impairment of our fellow citizens through frequent heart attacks and strokes could be prevented. A shift from “we try to fix the damage” - which is often not possible - into the direction “prevent the preventable” must be the focus of the upcoming years. Each year of prevention we lose for the given individual, puts her/him at more danger."
Developed with the support of over 40 international authors and partners including the World Heart Federation, European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health, International Atherosclerosis Society, European Atherosclerosis Society, Global Heart Hub, and leading life sciences stakeholders, the Declaration is now open for endorsement by individuals, institutions, and governments worldwide. “This Declaration is the result of truly global collaboration,” said Magdalena Daccord, CEO OF FH Europe Foundation. “It reflects the best of what science, policy, and patient voices can achieve together. With political will, health system action, and citizen engagement, we can dramatically shift how Lp(a) is addressed—and how many lives are saved.”
The Declaration is now open for endorsement by individuals, health professionals, scientific societies, institutions, and governments worldwide.
