Nina Schmidt1, Burkhard Schmidt2, Alexander Dressel3, Ingrid Gergei4, Jens Klotsche5, Lars Pieper5, Hubert Scharnagl6, Marcus E Kleber4, Winfried März7, Hendrik Lehnert8, David Pittrow9, Günter Stalla10, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen5, Tanja B Grammer4. 1. D A CH-Gesellschaft Prävention von Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen e.V., Schulterblatt 120, 20357 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: nina.schmidt@dach-praevention.eu. 2. Hochschule für Internationales Management, Sickingenstr. 63-65, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany. 3. D A CH-Gesellschaft Prävention von Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen e.V., Schulterblatt 120, 20357 Hamburg, Germany. 4. Medical Clinic V (Nephrology, Hypertensiology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Diabetology), Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. 5. Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technical University Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany. 6. Clinical Institute for Medical und Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria. 7. Medical Clinic V (Nephrology, Hypertensiology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Diabetology), Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany; Clinical Institute for Medical und Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria; Synlab Akademie, Synlab Holding Deutschland GmbH, P5, 7, 68161 Mannheim, Germany. 8. 1st Department of Medicine, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. 9. Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Technical University Dresden, Fiedlerstr. 27, 01307 Dresden, Germany. 10. Max-Planck- Institute for Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, 80804 Munich, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited disorder of lipoprotein metabolism characterised by impaired removal of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from the circulation, which leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This risk can be significantly lowered by early diagnosis and treatment. In Germany, reliable estimates of the prevalence of FH are lacking. We therefore examined the prevalence rate of FH in Germany in a primary care based cohort. METHOD: We utilized records of 4722 participants in the DETECT study, in whom complete data on blood lipids and medical history were available. Prevalence rates were assessed using the Dutch Lipid Clinics Network (DLCN) and the US-MEDPED criteria. We stratified for gender and age. Group differences were analyzed using Chi2 and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: Using the DLCN (probable or definite FH) and the US.MEDPED criteria yielded prevalence rates of 1:278 and 1:295, respectively. The established diagnostic scores used in this analysis identify different patients. In women below 50 years of age, the LDL-C concentration is lower than in men, leading to the possibility of under-diagnosing FH in this group because women under the age of 50 are less likely to reach a higher DLCN-Score. CONCLUSIONS: FH has a higher than expected prevalence in Germany. Clinical diagnostic algorithms may not be concordant.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited disorder of lipoprotein metabolism characterised by impaired removal of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from the circulation, which leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This risk can be significantly lowered by early diagnosis and treatment. In Germany, reliable estimates of the prevalence of FH are lacking. We therefore examined the prevalence rate of FH in Germany in a primary care based cohort. METHOD: We utilized records of 4722 participants in the DETECT study, in whom complete data on blood lipids and medical history were available. Prevalence rates were assessed using the Dutch Lipid Clinics Network (DLCN) and the US-MEDPED criteria. We stratified for gender and age. Group differences were analyzed using Chi2 and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: Using the DLCN (probable or definite FH) and the US.MEDPED criteria yielded prevalence rates of 1:278 and 1:295, respectively. The established diagnostic scores used in this analysis identify different patients. In women below 50 years of age, the LDL-C concentration is lower than in men, leading to the possibility of under-diagnosing FH in this group because women under the age of 50 are less likely to reach a higher DLCN-Score. CONCLUSIONS:FH has a higher than expected prevalence in Germany. Clinical diagnostic algorithms may not be concordant.
Authors: Anselm K Gitt; Ulrich Laufs; Winfried März; W Dieter Paar; Peter Bramlage; Nikolaus Marx; Klaus G Parhofer Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-06-30 Impact factor: 4.964
Authors: Anna E Semenova; Igor V Sergienko; Diego García-Giustiniani; Lorenzo Monserrat; Anna B Popova; Diana N Nozadze; Marat V Ezhov Journal: J Cardiovasc Dev Dis Date: 2020-05-14
Authors: Felix Fath; Andreas Bengeser; Mathias Barresi; Priska Binner; Stefanie Schwab; Kausik K Ray; Bernhard K Krämer; Uwe Fraass; Winfried März Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-10-14 Impact factor: 4.379