Clinical management of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in a Polish outpatient metabolic clinic: a retrospective observational study

Abstract

Introduction : There are currently no reports available from a Polish clinical practice on heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) management. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of HeFH hypolipidemic treatment in a Polish outpatient metabolic clinic according to treatment targets outlined in the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines. Material and methods : This retrospective, observational study was performed on HeFH patients who attended their routine follow-up visits in the metabolic outpatient clinic in the period between April and September 2016. According to EAS/ESC guidelines, the goal and intensity of therapy were assigned individually for every patient based on cardiovascular (CV) risk (high or very high). The treatment target was achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels 4.1 mmol/l) remained in 14% of all patients. Conclusions : Hypolipidemic therapy according to EAS/ESC guidelines was suboptimal for a significant number of HeFH patients. Additional clinical management should be considered.

Keywords

• familial hypercholesterolemia
• outpatient clinic
• lipid-lowering therapy
• efficacy