In a sensitivity analysis by excluding  individuals with CABG, stroke and peripheral arterial disease (n = 1758), high Lp(a) remains an independent predictor of recurrent CVEs in this population (medium Lp(a) categories: HR 2.244 [95% CI 1.263–3.984], p = 0.006; high Lp(a) categories: HR 2.399 [95% CI 1.313–4.383], p = 0.004; respectively) after adjusting for potential confounding factors (shown in Additional file 1: Table S1). The gene discussed is LPA; the disease is stroke disorder.