Abstract 11400: Coronary Artery and Carotid Artery Plaques in Patients With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

Background: Little is known regarding the formation coronary and carotid plaques and their impact on cardiovascular disease in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Objectives: We aimed to determine 1) when coronary and carotid plaques develop, 2) if the development of coronary and carotid plaques are correlated and 3) if these plaques are associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). Methods: This was a retrospective review of 622 patients with heterozygous FH at Kanazawa University Hospital, assessed coronary and carotid plaque scores using coronary computed tomography and carotid ultrasound within 1 year. Spearman correlation coefficients were assessed among variables. Risk factors for MACEs were determined using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: These scores were significantly correlated (Spearman’s r=0.82; p <0.001 in males and Spearman’s r=0.87; p <0.001 in females). We observed 132 MACEs during the median follow-up period of 13.2 years. Coronary and carotid plaque scores were significantly associated with the occurrence of MACE (hazard ratio: 3.33; 95% confidence interval: 1.88-4.78; p <0.001, hazard ratio: 2.24; 95% confidence interval: 1.28-3.20; p <0.001, respectively). The regression equations between age and the coronary and carotid artery plaque scores, respectively, were Y=0.358X-9.44 and Y=0.146X-3.68 in males, and Y=0.330X-11.76 and Y=0.121X-3.60 in females ( p <0.001 for all). Conclusion: Coronary and carotid plaque scores were significantly correlated, and both were independently associated with MACEs. Based on the regression equations, the average age of onset of coronary and carotid artery plaque developments, respectively, were 26 and 25 years old in males and 35 and 30 years in females.