Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Canada: An Observational Study

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare genetic disease characterized by very high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Untreated patients present with extensive xanthomas and premature atherosclerosis. Lipid-lowering therapy is highly efficacious and has dramatically increased life expectancy of patients with HoFH.

The aim of the study was to obtain a comprehensive registry of HoFH in Canada, known to have several founder effect regions, and describe the clinical characteristics and cardiovascular outcomes of this population over time.

Clinical and genetic data on patients with HoFH were collected via a standardized questionnaire sent to academic sites participating in the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Canada network.

A total of 48 patients with HoFH were enrolled. The median age at diagnosis was 12 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 5-24) and untreated LDL-C levels were 15.0 mmol/L (IQR: 10.5-18.6 mmol/L; 580 mg/dL IQR: 404-717 mg/dL). At last follow-up visit, median age was 40 years (IQR: 26-54 years). Treated LDL-C levels were 6.75 mmol/L (IQR: 4.73-9.51 mmol/L; 261 mg/dL IQR: 183-368 mg/dL) with 95.5% of patients on statins, 88.6% on ezetimibe, 34.1% on proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors, 27.3% on lomitapide, 13.6% on evinacumab, and 56.8% were treated with low-density lipoprotein apheresis or plasmapheresis. Deaths were reported in 7 (14.5%) and major adverse cardiovascular events were observed in 14.6% of patients with the average onset at 30 years (IQR: 20-36 years). Aortic stenosis was reported in one-half the patients (47.9%) and 10 (20.8%) underwent aortic valve replacement.

This HoFH patient registry in Canada will provide important new health-related knowledge about the phenotypic manifestations and determinants of cardiovascular risk in this population, allowing for closer examination of quality of life and burden to the health care system.