Prevalence of severe hypercholesterolemia observed in different hospitals in Andalusia and Ceuta

Abstract

Severe hypercholesterolaemia is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Early detection and treatment can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Given the high prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia in Andalusia, the development of a screening strategy for its detection in Primary Care may be an efficient measure. ObjectiveTo identify patients in Primary Care with severe hypercholesterolaemia that may increase their cardiovascular risk by reviewing LDL-cholesterol results in computerised laboratory systems. Material and methodsObservational, retrospective, multi-centre study in 16 hospitals in Andalusia and Ceuta. Anonymous analytical data were acquired from the different laboratory computer systems for the year 2018, and exclusively from Macarena Hospital for the year 2019. ResultsFrom a total of 1,969,035 determinations on ≥18 years old, 2791 patients (0.14%) were detected with LDL-cholesterol >250 mg/dl and from a total of 2.327.211 determinations studied in children under 18 years old, 3804 patients (0.16%) were detected with LDL-cholesterol >135 mg/dl. The highest incidence of possible genetic hypercholesterolaemia in adults corresponded to the province of Seville with 23.6 cases/1000 determinations, while in minors, the highest incidence corresponded to the province of Cadiz with 75 possible cases/1000 determinations. A geographical triangle of greater prevalence is observed between the provinces of Seville, Huelva and Cadiz. ConclusionsThe development of a screening strategy using a computerised review of LDL-cholesterol in Primary Care detects a large number of subjects with severe hypercholesterolaemia that could benefit from an early intervention.