Dr. Sara Collins is an Interventional Cardiologist in Bowie, Maryland. She earned her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her medical degree from Meharry Medical College. She completed her Internal Medicine training at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Cardiology fellowship at Georgetown University/Medstar Washington Hospital Center, and Interventional Cardiology training at Medstar Washington Hospital Center.
Dr. Collins has been involved in research for over 25 years. Her research has included vaccine development, observational studies, clinical device investigations, and phase II through IV clinical pharmaceutical research. She founded the Capital Research Institute, which was created to conduct cardiovascular clinical trials in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Collins serves as a consultant for healthcare startups engaging in business and product development. She is an active member of the Association of Black Cardiologists and co-chairs their Health and Public Policy Committee.
Elevated Lipoprotein(a), often referred to as Lp(a), is a significant risk factor for heart disease. Dr. Sara Collins, interventional cardiologist and researcher, breaks down the importance of knowing your Lp(a) levels, understanding your risk, and keeping hope alive.
Dr. Collins is working to foster a racially diverse research community and aims to reduce health disparities by addressing the underrepresentation of minorities in clinical trials.
Know Your Levels
“There are many different types of cholesterol in our bodies. Some are worse than others. Lp(a) is one type of bad cholesterol,” said Collins. “Lp(a) levels are determined genetically, meaning they are inherited. The amount of lipoprotein(a) you have as a child will most likely be the level you have lifelong.” She emphasizes that Lp(a) levels can vary depending on race or ethnicity, and people of African descent tend to have the highest levels of Lp(a).
Lp(a) is measured with a simple blood test, but it is not a test that is usually done routinely. You may need to ask your healthcare provider whether this test is appropriate for you based on your risk, and request that this specific test be performed if so. At this time, the test does not need to be repeated as other cholesterol tests do; however, that may change once treatment options are available. Knowing your Lp(a) level is a major part of understanding your risk.
Understand Your Risk
Dr. Collins explains that Lp(a) differs from other types of cholesterol in that levels are not affected by changes in diet and exercise habits. Your Lp(a) may be high even if you live a healthy lifestyle. “Most of the patients that I diagnose with elevated Lp(a) also have some risk factors they can modify,” she stated, “Even if Lp(a) levels are elevated, you should still practice healthy lifestyle habits like healthy eating and exercising regularly.”
Doing so will still help decrease your overall risk and improve your heart health. “You don’t want to make things worse by eating a diet that’s high in saturated fat and not exercising,” said Collins. She notes that the primary risks of elevated Lp(a) include blood clots, inflammation, and plaque buildup.
Until therapies are approved to treat elevated Lp(a) levels, we must understand our personal and community risk so we can take action. Taking action may include evaluating your health history to determine your risk, adopting healthy lifestyle habits, or having your levels checked. Clinical trial participation is another practical step you can take if you have been diagnosed with elevated Lp(a) or are at risk for certain heart conditions such as heart disease, stroke, or peripheral artery disease.
Keep Hope Alive
“African Americans are overrepresented when it comes to the burden of heart disease, but none of the treatments that we use have been appropriately studied in us,” said Dr. Collins. “The mistrust when it comes to healthcare and clinical research is valid and it’s real, and we have to chip away at it.” How do we do that? One way is by participating in clinical trials.
Did you know that by participating in clinical trials, you can help researchers develop new treatment options? Minorities are often underrepresented in clinical research, despite having higher rates of conditions being studied. This makes participation a crucial, collective community effort that can improve our overall health in the long term and promote better health outcomes.
Dr. Collins encourages and advocates for minority participation in clinical trials. She states, “When you enroll in a clinical trial, you’re in a very supported, safe, observed, and regulated clinical environment. Additionally, you’re not only doing a service to yourself, but you’re also doing a service to your community.”
