Cardiovascular disease onset in old people with severe hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) variants are associated with higher atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk (ASCVD) even when compared with other forms of severe hypercholesterolemia, especially in young people. Lipid lowering therapies (LLT) may change hypercholesterolemia natural history. This study aimed at evaluating factors associated with occurrence of ASCVD in old severe hypercholesterolemics diagnosed or not with FH and undergoing LLT. METHODS: Hypercholesterolemic individuals ≥60 years participating on a genetic cascade screening for FH were divided in 4 groups (2 × 2) according to the presence (variant+) or not (variant-) of FH genetic variants and previous ASCVD (ASCVD+ and ASCVD-). Biomarkers associated with new incident ASCVD events were tested using Cox models. Continuous data shown as medians (%25; %75). RESULTS: From 4,111 genotyped individuals, 377 (9.1%) were elderly [age 66 (63; 71) years], 28.9% males, 42.7% variant+, 32.1% with previous ASCVD, LLT duration 9 (5; 16) years, and on treatment LDL-cholesterol 144 (109; 200) mg/dL. After 4.8 (7; 3) years of follow up there were 47 incident events (12.4%, 2.7% patient/year). The annualized event rates were 0.8% (95% CI 0.36%; 1.70%), 2.3% (95% CI 1.3%; 4.1%), 5.2% (95% CI 2.8%; 9.7%) and 6.3% (95% CI 4.0%; 10.0%) respectively for groups variant-/ASCVD-, variant+/ASCVD-, variant-/ASCVD+ and, variant+/ASCVD+ (p log rank p < 0.001). Only presence of previous ASCVD was independently associated with incident ASCVD [hazard ratio 3.236 (95%CI 1.497-6.993, p = 0.003)]. No interaction was found for previous ASCVD and variants. CONCLUSIONS: In old severe hypercholesterolemic individuals undergoing long-term LLT previous ASCVD was associated with incident events while FH causing variants were not.

Familial hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease in older individuals.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by high LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and early atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). With a lipid lowering therapy (LLT), most individuals with FH may have a longer ASCVD-free survival. However, there is scant data about older individuals with FH. METHODS: We compared characteristics of genetically defined FH older individuals with age-matched non-FH counterparts. RESULTS: From 4111 genotyped individuals, 462 older than 60 years were included (198 positive and 264 negative for FH variants). There were no differences regarding median age [%25; 75%] 66.0 (62.0; 71.0) and 66.0 (62.2; 71.0) years, p = 0.68 for FH and non-FH, respectively. In both groups, there was a higher frequency of females, however, there were more males in the FH group 37.4% vs. 24.2%, p = 0.002. No differences were seen between FH and non-FH in LLT use: 88.5% vs. 91.5%, p = 0.29. Despite a longer LLT duration in FH patients (with 11.0 (7.0; 20.0) vs. 7.0 (3.0; 13.0) years, p < 0.001), treatment was started late in both groups: at 54.0 (47.0; 61.0) and 59.0 (52.0; 64.0) years, p < 0.001, in FH and non-FH, respectively. FH had greater frequencies of previous and early ASCVD (40.9% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.002, and 22.2% vs. 9.0%, p < 0.001). In FH, male sex [HR (95%CI)] 2.67 (1.50-4.73), p = 0.001, and LLT onset age 0.96 (0.93-0.99), p = 0.009, were independently associated with ASCVD. CONCLUSIONS: Among hypercholesterolemic older individuals participating in a cascade screening program, the genetic diagnosis of FH was associated with higher ASCVD rates, emphasizing the relevance of a monogenic defect as the cause of long-lasting hypercholesterolemia and ASCVD risk, particularly in men.