Use and persistence of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia: A prospective study

Abstract

IntroductionStatins are the first line of treatment in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia (SH). However, despite the knowledge regarding its effectiveness and security for preventing cardiovascular diseases, treatment is a major challenge. Material and methodsA prospective observational study was conducted by telephone survey to determine cardiovascular risk factors, annual monitoring, statins use and persistence and new-onset cardiovascular events (CVE) after 5 years in patients with HS including in a programme for detection of familial hypercholesterolemia. Results115 participants were analysed, the median age was 56 ± 10 being 74% females. 63.4% of women and 43% of men had been correctly controlled in the last year. Patients on lipid lowering drugs stratified by sex was 38.8% in women and 26.7% in men, however, only 22 participants (31.8%) were persistence with statins since 2015.Overall, 48% of the patients presented a CVE and 3.4% died. Multivariate analysis did not reveal predictors for CVE. ConclusionsIn our population with SH we found a high risk to present a CVE and a dramatic low use and persistence with the treatment.