A study published in Science, led by Professor John Danesh and Dr Adam Butterworth (PHPC) and funded by the British Heart Foundation, has found that some people with high levels of ‘good’ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are at increased risk of coronary heart disease, contrary to earlier evidence suggesting a lower risk.

The researchers studied people with a rare genetic mutation in the SCARB1 gene – the P376L variant – which results in high levels of HDL-C.

They unexpectedly found that people with the mutation had an 80% increased relative risk of the disease – almost equivalent to the increased risk attributable to smoking.

The results support a move away from potentially ineffective HDL-raising drugs to treat coronary heart disease and their replacement with new treatments to reduce risk.