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Sarkies M, Jones LK, Pang J, Sullivan D, Watts GF. How Can Implementation Science Improve the Care of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia? Curr Atheroscler Rep 2023; 25:133-143. [PMID: 36806760 PMCID: PMC10027803 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-023-01090-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Describe the application of implementation science to improve the detection and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia. RECENT FINDINGS Gaps between evidence and practice, such as underutilization of genetic testing, family cascade testing, failure to achieve LDL-cholesterol goals and low levels of knowledge and awareness, have been identified through clinical registry analyses and clinician surveys. Implementation science theories, models and frameworks have been applied to assess barriers and enablers in the literature specific to local contextual factors (e.g. stages of life). The effect of implementation strategies to overcome these factors has been evaluated; for example, automated identification of individuals with FH or training and education to improve statin adherence. Clinical registries were identified as a key infrastructure to monitor, evaluate and sustain improvements in care. The expansion in evidence supporting the care of familial hypercholesterolaemia requires a similar expansion of efforts to translate new knowledge into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell Sarkies
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Laney K Jones
- Department of Genomic Health, Research Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
- Heart and Vascular Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
| | - Jing Pang
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - David Sullivan
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gerald F Watts
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Lipid Disorders Clinic, Department of Cardiology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
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Alonso R, Muñiz-Grijalvo O, Díaz-Díaz JL, Zambón D, de Andrés R, Arroyo-Olivares R, Fuentes-Jimenez F, Muñoz-Torrero JS, Cepeda J, Aguado R, Alvarez-Baños P, Casañas M, Dieguez M, Mañas MD, Rubio P, Argueso R, Arrieta F, Gonzalez-Bustos P, Perez-Isla L, Mata P. Efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitors in the treatment of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: A clinical practice experience. J Clin Lipidol 2021; 15:584-592. [PMID: 34052174 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND PCSK9 inhibitors are a treatment option for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia not on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals despite the use of maximally tolerated high intensity-statins dose. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of alirocumab and evolocumab in LDL-C reduction and targets attainment in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in clinical practice setting. METHODS SAFEHEART is an open, long-term prospective study of a cohort of subjects with molecular diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia. This study analyze subjects ≥ 20 years of age on stable lipid-lowering therapy, who received PCSK9 inhibitors during the period 2016 to January 2020. RESULTS 433 patients (mean age 55 years, 53% male, 39% with cardiovascular disease) were included and followed-up for a median of 2.5 years (IQR 1.6-3.0). Median LDL-C level prior to PCSK9 inhibitors was 145 mg/dL (IQR 125-173). The addition of PCSK9 inhibitors (211 alirocumab, 222 evolocumab) reduced LDL-C by 58% (IQR 41-70) p<0.001, in men and women, achieving a median LDL-C level of 62 mg/dL (IQR 44-87) without differences between both PCSK9 inhibitors. Out of them 67% with and 80% without cardiovascular disease reached 2016 ESC/EAS LDL-C targets, and 46% very high risk and 50% high risk patients achieved 2019 ESC/EAS LDL-C goals. Independent predictor factors for attainment of 2019 ESC/EAS LDL-C goals were to be male, smoking and the use of statins with ezetimibe. Both inhibitors were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS PCSK9 inhibitors on top of maximum lipid-lowering treatment significantly reduced LDL-C levels in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and improved the achievement of LDL-C targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Alonso
- Fundación Hipercolesterolemia Familiar, General Alvarez de Castro 14, E 2800 Madrid, Spain; Center for Advanced Metabolic Medicine and Nutrition, Av. Las Condes 9460, of 501, Santiago, Chile.
| | | | | | | | | | - Raquel Arroyo-Olivares
- Fundación Hipercolesterolemia Familiar, General Alvarez de Castro 14, E 2800 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Jose Cepeda
- Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Comarcal Vega Baja, Orihuela, Spain
| | - Rocío Aguado
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital General de León, León, Spain
| | - Pilar Alvarez-Baños
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Marta Casañas
- Internal Medicine Department, Hospital San Pedro, Logroño, Spain
| | - Marta Dieguez
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital de Cabueñes, Gijón, Spain
| | | | - Patricia Rubio
- Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain
| | - Rosa Argueso
- Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Gonzalez-Bustos
- Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Leopoldo Perez-Isla
- Fundación Hipercolesterolemia Familiar, General Alvarez de Castro 14, E 2800 Madrid, Spain; Department of Cardiology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IDISSC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Mata
- Fundación Hipercolesterolemia Familiar, General Alvarez de Castro 14, E 2800 Madrid, Spain.
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Alonso R, Perez de Isla L, Muñiz-Grijalvo O, Mata P. Barriers to Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Current Perspectives on Improving Patient Care. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2020; 16:11-25. [PMID: 32021224 PMCID: PMC6957097 DOI: 10.2147/vhrm.s192401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a frequent disorder associated with premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Different clinical diagnosis criteria are available, and cost of genetic testing has been reduced in the last years; however, most cases are not diagnosed worldwide. Patients with FH are at high cardiovascular risk and the risk can be reduced with lifelong lifestyle and pharmacological treatment. Statins and ezetimibe are available as generic drugs in most countries reducing the cost of treatment. However, the use of high-intensity statins combined with ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors, if necessary, is low for different reasons that contribute to a high number of patients not reaching LDL-C targets according to guidelines. On the other hand, cardiovascular risk varies greatly in families with FH; therefore, risk stratification strategies including cardiovascular imaging is another element to consider for improving care and management of FH. There are numerous barriers depending on the awareness, knowledge, perception of risk, management and care of patients living with FH that impact in the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. In this contemporary review, we analyze different barriers in the diagnosis and care of patients to improve patients’ care and prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and describe recent advances and strategies to improve the gaps in the care of FH, including global collaboration and advocacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Alonso
- Department of Nutrition, Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.,Fundación Hipercolesterolemia Familiar, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Pedro Mata
- Fundación Hipercolesterolemia Familiar, Madrid, Spain
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Inflammatory Biomarkers for Cardiovascular Risk Stratification in Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 177:25-52. [PMID: 32691159 DOI: 10.1007/112_2020_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a frequent autosomal genetic disease characterized by elevated concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) from birth with increased risk of premature atherosclerotic complications. Accumulating evidence has shown enhanced inflammation in patients with FH. In vessels, the deposition of modified cholesterol lipoproteins triggers local inflammation. Then, inflammation facilitates fatty streak formation by activating the endothelium to produce chemokines and adhesion molecules. This process eventually results in the uptake of vascular oxidized LDL (OxLDL) by scavenger receptors in monocyte-derived macrophages and formation of foam cells. Further leukocyte recruitment into the sub-endothelial space leads to plaque progression and activation of smooth muscle cells proliferation. Several inflammatory biomarkers have been reported in this setting which can be directly synthetized by activated inflammatory/vascular cells or can be indirectly produced by organs other than vessels, e.g., liver. Of note, inflammation is boosted in FH patients. Inflammatory biomarkers might improve the risk stratification for coronary heart disease and predict atherosclerotic events in FH patients. This review aims at summarizing the current knowledge about the role of inflammation in FH and the potential application of inflammatory biomarkers for cardiovascular risk estimation in these patients.
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Miname MH, Santos RD. Reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: Risk prediction and lipid management. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2019; 62:414-422. [PMID: 31669498 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a frequent genetic disorder characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and early onset of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. FH is caused by mutations in genes that regulate LDL catabolism, mainly the LDL receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB) and gain of function of proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9). However, the phenotype may be encountered in individuals not carrying the latter monogenic defects, in approximately 20% of these effects of polygenes predominate, and in many individuals no molecular defects are encountered at all. These so-called FH phenocopy individuals have an elevated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in comparison with normolipidemic individuals but this risk is lower than in those with monogenic disease. Individuals with FH are exposed to elevated LDL-C levels since birth and this explains the high cardiovascular, mainly coronary heart disease, burden of these subjects. However, recent studies show that this risk is heterogenous and depends not only on high LDL-C levels but also on presence of previous cardiovascular disease, a monogenic cause, male sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, low HDL-cholesterol, obesity and elevated lipoprotein(a). This heterogeneity in risk can be captured by risk equations like one from the SAFEHEART cohort and by detection of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. High dose high potency statins are the main stain for LDL-C lowering in FH, however, in most situations these medications are not powered enough to reduce cholesterol to adequate levels. Ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors should also be used in order to better treat LDL-C in FH patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcio H Miname
- Lipid Clinic Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medical School Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raul D Santos
- Lipid Clinic Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medical School Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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