Attainment of LDL Cholesterol Treatment Goals in Children and Adolescents With Familial Hypercholesterolemia. The SAFEHEART Follow-up Registry

Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2017 Jun;70(6):444-450. doi: 10.1016/j.rec.2016.10.010. Epub 2016 Nov 29.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Little is known about the characteristics of persons with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) younger than 18 years, the lipid-lowering therapy used in these patients, and the lipid goals reached in real life. Our aim was to evaluate the achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) treatment goals in FH patients younger than 18 years enrolled in a large national registry.

Methods: We analyzed patients younger than 18 years enrolled in a large ongoing registry of molecularly-defined patients with FH in Spain. The attainment of guideline-recommended plasma LDL-C goals at entry and follow-up was analyzed in relation to the use of lipid-lowering therapy.

Results: We enrolled 392 individuals younger than 18 years. Of these, 217 were molecularly-diagnosed FH patients and had a complete follow-up. The median follow-up time was 4.69 years (interquartile range, 2.48-6.38 years), 68.2% of FH patients were on statins, and 41.5% patients had LDL-C < 130mg/dL. Statin use was the only predictor of LDL-C goal attainment.

Conclusions: This study shows that a high proportion of FH patients younger than 18 years have high LDL-C levels and fail to achieve recommended LDL-C targets. Statin use was the only independent predictor of LDL-C goal achievement. No safety concerns were detected during follow-up. These results indicate that many FH patients are not adequately controlled and that there is still room for treatment improvement.

Keywords: Adolescentes; Adolescents; Cardiovascular disease; Children; Enfermedad cardiovascular; Estatinas; Familial hypercholesterolemia; Hipercolesterolemia familiar; Lipid-lowering therapy; Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals; Niños; Objetivos de colesterol unido a lipoproteínas de baja densidad; Statins; Terapia hipolipemiante.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood*
  • Cholesterol, LDL / drug effects
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Guideline Adherence*
  • Humans
  • Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / blood
  • Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / drug therapy*
  • Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / epidemiology
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Registries*
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Cholesterol, LDL