Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2024; 121(11): e20240116

Uncontrolled Cholesterol in Individuals with Severe Hypercholesterolemia in a Health Evaluation Program in Brazil

Raul D. Santos , Nea Miwa Kashiwagi, Fernando Yue Cesena , Silvia Regina Lamas Assis, Josué Nieri, Carlos Andre Minanni, Marcelo Franken, Otavio Berwanger

DOI: 10.36660/abc.20240116i

This Original Article is referred by the Short Editorial "Adherence, Compliance and Persistency in High Cholesterol Treatment".

Abstract

Background

Individuals with severe hypercholesterolemia (SH) are considered at high atherosclerosis risk and should be intensively treated with lipid-lowering drugs aiming for an LDL-C reduction of≥50% and a goal of <70 mg/dL.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate cholesterol control in individuals with SH (LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL or 160-189 mg/dL using lipid-lowering drugs) followed in a health evaluation program.

Methods

55,000 individuals were evaluated, of which 2,214 (4%) had SH, and 1,016 (45.8%) had repeated assessments. Achievement of recommended LDL-C goals was the primary study endpoint. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Mean age (± SD) was 44.9±8.8 years, 84.2% were men, and 0.5% reported previous myocardial infarction. Mean LDL-C was 203.0±22.0 mg/dL, and although 62.5% referred dyslipidemia, only 19% were using lipid-lowering drugs (5.9% in cases with LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL). During a 4.1±2.8-year follow-up, use of lipid-lowering drugs increased from 18.1% to 48.4% (p<0.00001), 5.9% to 45.4% in those with LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL (p< 0.00001) though 31% of cases with LDL-C 160-189 mg/dL stopped taking medications. Overall, there was a mean 26.7% reduction in LDL-C (p<0.0001), and LDL-C reductions ≥50% were attained in 19.2%, 19.1%, and 19.7 % of all individuals, and in those with LDL-C > 190 mg/dL and 160-189 mg/dL respectively. Only 3.1% reached LDL-C < 70 mg/dL (2.7% in those with LDL-C ≥ 190 and 5.3% in those with 160-189 mg/dL).

Conclusions

A serious gap was found between treatment recommendations and reality in individuals at high atherosclerosis risk due to SH.