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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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