The Role of Cumulative LDL Cholesterol in Cardiovascular Disease Development in Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

In patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) the exposure of very high LDL-C concentration and cumulative LDL-C level (cum LDL-C) can play a significant role in the prognosis. Objective: to analyze the contribution of “cum LDL-C for all life” and the index “cum LDL-C/age” to the development of coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction (MI), and a combined end point: MI, stroke, unstable angina in FH patients. Methods: 188 patients (mean age 49.2 years, males 45.7%) with FH were examined (Dutch Lipid Clinic Criteria). We had evaluated cumulative LDL-C and index “cum DL-C/age” along with other classical risk factors. Cum LDL-C was calculated as LDL-Cmax × (age at initiating of hypolipidemic therapy) + LDL-C at inclusion age at initiation/correction therapy). Cumulative LDL-C and “cum LDL-C/age” were calculated as the ratio cum LDL-C to age. The follow-up period was 5.4 (from 3 to 10) years. Results: The index “cum LDL-C/age” was higher in patients with CHD 58.7 ± 10.4 mmol/L/years vs. 40.1 ± 11.7 mmol/L/years in patients without CHD (p < 0.001). According to our data based on the results of the logistic regression analysis in patients with FH, cumulative LDL-C and the cumulative index “cum LDL–C/age” played a strong predictive role in the development of CHD in FH patients; it was greater than the role of TC and LDL-C concentrations. We present ROC curves for CHD, MI and combined end point in FH patients, and a prognostic scale for CHD development, which is based on classical cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusion: cumulative LDL-C level plays an important role in the development of CHD in FH patients.