Application of the MCDA method for assessing new technologies for familial hypercholesterolaemia treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Marisa Santos ◽  
◽  
Quenia Morais ◽  
Helena Cramer ◽  
Marcelo Assad ◽  
...  

Objective: Familial hypercholesterolaemia is a hereditary disease characterized by very high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and an elevated risk of early-onset cardiovascular disorders. New drugs provide alternatives for the treatment of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. The study aims to explore a practical application of multiple-criteria decision analysis on prioritization of new and emerging technologies for familial hypercholesterolaemia. Methods: The decision model was constructed using the MACBETH method. There were three stages: structuring the problem, measuring the performance of alternatives, and building the model. The weights for alternatives and levels were obtained by indirect comparisons, which evaluated the attractiveness of the performance levels of the criteria using the swing weights technique. Results: The drugs lomitapide, ezetimibe, evolocumab, and mipomersen were selected as alternatives for decision-making. “Cardiovascular Death”, “Stroke” and “Acute Myocardial Infarction” had the three most significant weights. The criteria with the lowest weights were “Comfort” and “LDL-C Reduction”. The top-ranked technology was evolocumab, with an overall score of 59.87, followed by ezetimibe, with a score of 37.21. Conclusion: How to apply the result of a higher score in the actual decisionmaking process still requires further studies. The case in question showed that evolocumab has more performance benefits than other drugs but with a cost approximately 50 times higher

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-77
Author(s):  
Athyros VG

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is the most common inherited monogenic lipid disorder. It is caused by mutations of genes related to low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors, apolipoprotein B or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Homozygous FH (HoFH; 1/400,000 births) is treated by LDL apheresis. Recently lomitapide has been used for the treatment of HoFH as a monotherapy or in addition to LDL apheresis. Heterozygous FH (HeFH), 1/250-1/200 births, is associated with an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The main treatment for HeFH has been high doses of high intensity statins plus ezetimibe. However, this is not usually enough to attain LDL-C targets, especially in those with overt CVD or equivalents (LDL-C goal of<70 mg/dl). Data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study showed that loss of function mutations of PCSK9 were associated with a 28% lower LDL-C level and an 88% reduction in the risk of CVD in blacks, while in whites these numbers were 15% and 47%, respectively. This led to the development of technology to block PCSK9 with monoclonal human antibodies (e.g. evolocumab and alirocumab). These antibodies have been shown in phase II and III trials to be safe and to produce reductions in LDL-C levels by around 60% either as monotherapy or on top of optimal therapy with statins and ezetimibe. These antibodies are administered subcutaneously every 2 weeks with an automatic device. Anti-PCSK9 antibodies are expected to be licensed soon (? in 2015) and are considered by many as “the statins of the 21st century”.


2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avishay Elis ◽  
Rong Zhou ◽  
Evan A. Stein

AbstractBackground:This study evaluated the effectiveness of long-term intensive lipid-lowering therapy in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia.Methods:The charts of 89 children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia among ∼1000 patients treated from 1974 to 2008 were reviewed. Familial hypercholesterolaemia was defined as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level >90th percentile in individuals with a history of familial hypercholesterolaemia.Results:Of the 89 patients, 51% were male; the mean age at diagnosis was 8 ± 4 years, and the mean follow-up was 13 ± 8 years. Baseline and most recent low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (mg/dl) under treatment were 250 ± 50 and 142 ± 49, respectively, reduced 43% from baseline (p < 0.0001). At the most recent visit, 39 patients received statin monotherapy, mainly atorvastatin or rosuvastatin, and 50 (56%) patients received combination therapy, mainly vytorin or rosuvastain/ezetimibe, 15 patients were >30 years of age, and none developed symptomatic cardiovascular disease or needed revascularisation.Conclusions:Long-term statin-based therapy can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in most children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia and decrease cardiovascular risk significantly.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiji Matsunaga ◽  
Asako Mizobuchi ◽  
Hayato Tada ◽  
Tsuyoshi Sasaki ◽  
Yoshihiro Asano ◽  
...  

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal hereditary disease found in patients who have elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from birth. Early detection and treatment of FH during childhood potentially reduces the risk of premature cardiovascular events. In Kagawa prefecture, a unique community health system, involving three steps, has been conducted to prevent lifestyle-related diseases for 10-year-old children. This system includes universal lipid screening, selection by pediatricians, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of FH-related genes in hospitals. The aim of this study is to compare 3 international guidelines to detect pediatric FH with this unique community health system in Kagawa. Methods: In Kagawa prefecture, the universal lipid screening of approximately 8,000 children at 10 years of age is performed annually, covering over 90% of the target group. After excluding secondary hypercholesterolemia, pediatric clinics introduced children with LDL-C >140mg/dL to 4 designated hospitals to perform NGS. We applied the guidelines of the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN), Simon Broome (SB), and the Japanese Atherosclerosis Society (JAS) to children who received NGS in the unique community health system in Kagawa. Results: We performed NGS for 46 children from January 2018 to February 2020 (LDL-C 186.0±50.3 mg/dL; Male/F 27/19) and 26 (57%) had FH genetic mutations (23 LDL-R and 3 PCSK9 mutations). Seventeen children met FH criteria for DLCN (35%), 10 for Simon Broome (22%), and 11 for JAS (24%), respectively. The combination of NGS and either of the 3 guidelines increased the number of children diagnosed as FH up to 31 (67%). Conclusion: International guidelines detected only half of pediatric FH who were diagnosed by the unique community health system in Kagawa. Further investigation will be required to build an effective universal screening system for pediatric FH.


2020 ◽  
pp. 343-348
Author(s):  
Perry Elliott ◽  
Pier D. Lambiase ◽  
Dhavendra Kumar

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an inborn error of metabolism that leads to accumulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) particles in the blood and premature coronary artery atherosclerosis. This chapter covers the clinical criteria for the diagnosis of FH, the genetics that underpins the condition, cascade testing, premature coronary heart disease, and treatment methods.


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