P648Screening and treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia in a French sample of ambulatory care: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study

Background

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is largely underdiagnosed as there are typically no clinical symptoms prior to the first cardiovascular (CV) event. We conducted a study which utilised ambulatory care electronic medical record (EMRs) to alert physicians to possible cases of FH. Specifically, physicians were alerted to LDL-C levels >190 mg/dL (suggesting a risk of FH) and invited to complete the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score (DLCN).

Purpose

Describe characteristics, comorbidities and clinical management of patients diagnosed with definite or probable FH in an ambulatory care setting.

Methods

All patients with a DLCN score of definite/probable FH (score higher or equal than 6; index event) between January 2016 and September 2018 were identified in the THIN® database (The Health Improvement Network; an anonymized EMR powered by GERSDATA, a Cegedim Health Data Division). These fully anonymized data were collected by 2000 General Practitioners (GP), 130 cardiologists and 40 endocrinologists, receiving 5.5 million patients regularly in their office. Sociodemographic, laboratory measurements, comorbidities, lipid-lowering therapies (LLT), visits to specialists, LDL-C and hospitalizations were collected and analysed at baseline, and 1, 2, 3, 6 months, and 1 year thereafter.

Results

From 999 anonymous patients with a DLCN score, 98 (10%) FH patients were identified (38 [39%] definite FH, 60 [61%] probable FH) while remaining fully anonymous, 9 (9%) of whom already had genetic testing. Mean (SD) age was 57.4 (14.3) years; 56 (57%) patients were female, half (51/98 [52%]) were diagnosed with pure hypercholesterolemia (ICD-10 code: E78.0) and 9 (9%) had a personal history of CV event. 93 patients (95%) had a LDL-C measurement prior to DLCN assessment (definite FH, 36/38 [95%]; probable FH, 57/60 [95%]). Among screened FH patients, 61.2% had LDL-C between 190 to 250 mg/dL and 16.3% had LDL-C higher than 250 mg/dL. At the time of DLCN assessment, one third (30/98 [31%]) of patients were not receiving any LLT, one third ([35%] 34/98) were receiving statins alone, 19% (19/98) receiving LLT combination with statin, and 15% (15) other LLTs. Moderate statin intensity was prescribed in 20% (20/98) of patients; high intensity statin, 17%, (17/98); low intensity, 10% (10/98). No improvement on LLT use (including use of high statin intensity) was observed over the 12-month follow-up.

Conclusion

This is the first study in France that use EMR to screen possible FH patients and support GPs in identifying patients that need to be treated. Our data highlight the need to screen, diagnosis and treat potential FH patients in ambulatory care settings. Longer follow-up is needed to evaluate the impact of FH assessment on referral to specialists, LLT and clinical outcomes.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Amgen