P4397Health related quality of life is not reduced in elder familial hypercholesterolemia patients

Background

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder associated with high risk of early major cardiovascular events (MACE) that can impact on elderly's self-appraisal of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), however, this association is unclear.

Purpose

This study evaluated HRQoL of elder individuals (from 60 to 88 years old), index cases (IC) and first-degree relatives (FDR) at high risk of FH.

Methods

From 1030 participants of FH genetic cascade screening, 250 were ≥60 and 205 were eligible for this study. Data collection was performed before awareness of molecular diagnosis results. Individuals were divided into 4 groups according to molecular diagnosis: IC with (IC+) and without (IC-) identified mutations (n=38 and n=54, respectively), and their affected (FDR+, n=74) and non-affected (FDR-, n=39) FDR. HRQoL measurements, mental (MCS) and physical component (PCS) scores, were carried out with the SF-12 questionnaire. Associations were tested by multivariate models.

Results

The mean age was 68±7 years, 32.2% were men, MACE had occurred in 47.8%. HRQoL dimensions measure (variance of physical, mental and health quality component scores) did not differ between FH and non-FH individuals. Lower PCS were associated with female sex (p=0.043), lower education (p=0.047), previous MACE occurrence (p<0.001), arterial hypertension (p=0.005), depression (p=0.004) and Alzheimer's disease (p=0.016). Lower MCS were associated with the previous diagnosis of depression (p<0.001) and Alzheimer's disease (p=0.011). Lower HQS were associated with lower education level (p=0.001), previous MACE (p<0.001), arterial hypertension (p<0.001), depression and Alzheimer (p=0.004 and p=0.006). MACE and hypertension were predictive of lower PCS (p=0.003 and p=0.035). Depression was predictive of lower MCS (p<0.001). Education, MACE and depression were predictive of health quality self-appraisal. No association was found with either molecular defect or lipid-lowering therapy.

Conclusion

HRQol in elder suspected FH individuals relates more to a consequence of elevated cholesterol levels i.e. MACE and co-morbidities rather than molecular defects or pharmacological treatment.