Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common genetic disorder associated with premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease (ASCVD). However, it still is severely underdiagnosed. Initiating lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) in FH patients early in life can substantially reduce their ASCVD risk. As a result, identifying FH is of the utmost importance. The increasing availability of genetic testing may be useful in this regard. We aimed to evaluate the genetic profiles, clinical characteristics, and gender differences between the first consecutive patients referred for genetic testing with FH clinical suspicion in our institution (a Spanish cohort). Clinical information was reviewed, and all participants were sequenced for the main known genes related to FH: LDLR, APOB, PCSK9 (heterozygous FH), LDLRAP1 (autosomal recessive FH), and two other genes related to hyperlipidaemia (APOE and LIPA). The genetic yield was 32%. Their highest recorded LDLc levels were 294 ± 65 SD mg. However, most patients (79%) were under > 1 LLT medication, and their last mean LDLc levels were 135 ± 51 SD. LDLR c.2389+4A>G was one of the most frequent pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants and its carriers had significantly worse LDLc highest recorded levels (348 ± 61 SD vs. 282 ± 60 SD mg/dL, p = 0.002). Moreover, we identified an homozygous carrier of the pathogenic variant LDLRAP1 c.207delC (autosomal recessive FH). Both clinical and genetic hypercholesterolemia diagnosis was significantly established earlier in men than in women (25 years old ± 15 SD vs. 35 years old ± 19 SD, p = 0.02; and 43 ± 17 SD vs. 54 ± 19 SD, p = 0.02, respectively). Other important CV risk factors were found in 44% of the cohort. The prevalence of family history of premature ASCVD was high, whereas personal history was exceptional. Our finding reaffirms the importance of early detection of FH to initiate primary prevention strategies from a young age. Genetic testing can be very useful. As it enables familial cascade genetic testing, early prevention strategies can be extended to all available relatives at concealed high CV risk.
Keywords: atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD); cardiovascular prevention; familial hypercholesterolemia (FH); genetic testing.