Abstract 406: Achievement of Treatment Target in Korean Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Background: In many cases of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), there remains difficulty in achievement of treatment target. However, despite growing attention to FH, data on the treatment and its results in these patients are very limited. Methods: From nine sites in Korea, 122 consecutive unrelated men and women who were diagnosed with heterozygous FH by Simon Broome criteria were initially enrolled. Atorvastatin 20 mg or similar-potency drugs were prescribed and the dose was escalated every 2 months (for the first 6 months) or 6 months (thereafter) if needed. Forty one subjects were dropped and 81 subjects who underwent regular laboratory check-up were finally analyzed. The primary evaluation points were achievement rates of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <70 mg/dL, LDL-C<100 mg/dL, and LDL-C down to 50% of baseline levels at 12 month. The secondary evaluation point was % change of LDL-C at 12 month. Results: Patients’ mean age was 53 years and 59.3% were males. 21.0% were definite type FH and 28.4% had coronary artery disease (CAD). The mean total cholesterol and LDL-C were 319 mg/dL and 232 mg/dL, respectively. At 12 month, 7.4% received atorvastatin 10mg or similar, 21.0% received atorvastatin 20mg or similar, 16.0% received atorvastatin 40mg or similar, 4.9% received atorvastatin 80mg or similar, and 49.4% received atorvastatin (mean 57 mg) or similar plus ezetimibe 10mg. The mean follow-up total cholesterol and LDL-C were 201 mg/dL and 124 mg/dL, respectively. The mean % change of LDL-C was -45.6%. The achievement rates of LDL-C<70 mg/dL, <100 mg/dL, and LDL-C down to 50% of baseline were 1%, 21%, and 44%, respectively. The achievement rates were not significantly different between the patients without or with CAD (1.8%, 26.3%, 47.4% vs. 0%, 8.7%, 34.8%, respectively, all p values > 0.05). Conclusions: The achievement rate of treatment target in FH was low in Korea even after maximum tolerable dose of lipid lowering drugs. Improvement of awareness on this issue and more aggressive treatment are needed for this population.