11 Jul Statins Reduces But Don’t Eliminate Risk of CAD In Familial Hypercholesterolemia

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Joost Besseling, PhD-student
Academic Medical Center
Dept. of Vascular Medicine
Amsterdam

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? 

Response: It was unkown to what extent statin therapy reduces the risk for coronary artery disease and mortality in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). One previous study found that the relative risk reduction was 76%, but the study population in this study consisted of with a very severe FH phenotype. This result is therefore an overestimation of the risk reduction in the general heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia population.

MedicalResearch.com:  What are the main findings?

Response: We found that statin therapy lowers the risk for coronary artery disease and all-cause mortality by 44%. It also appeared that the higher the baseline LDL-cholesterol level, the more relative risk reduction was achieved.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: The risk for coronary artery disease and mortality in heterozygous  familial hypercholesterolemia patients is significantly reduced by statin therapy, but a large residual risk will probably remain. Furthermore, our results are essential for cost-effectiveness studies in heterozygous  familial hypercholesterolemia patients, e.g. when it is evaluated whether new lipid-lowering therapies should be reimbursed.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: It would be of interest to examine whether high-intensity statin therapy lead to more risk reduction compared to moderate and low intensity statins.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:
Abstract 18995: Statins in Familial Hypercholesterolemia – Effects on Coronary Artery Disease and All-cause Mortality
Joost Besseling, Gerard K Hovingh, John J Kastelein and Barbara A Hutten
Published: November 10, 2015

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

More Medical Research Interviews on MedicalResearch.com

[wysija_form id=”5″]

Last Updated on July 11, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD