Abstract: A method for determining propensity toward developing a cardiovascular disease in a patient at risk thereof by determining the presence in an ABCA1 gene of said patient of a polymorphism in the DNA sequence of the gene wherein said polymorphism is present in a non-coding region of said gene is disclosed. Also described is a method of identifying a modulator of ABCA1 polynucleotide expression comprising by determining the ability of a test compound to modulate the activity of a polynucleotide comprising a polymorphism disclosed herein, or to mimic the effects of such polymorphism where such effects are beneficial. Treatment of cardiovascular disease, especially coronary artery disease, using agents identified by the disclosed methods is also described.