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Health-related quality of life in elderly patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2008

Laura Hyttinen ,
Päivi Kekäläinen ,
Alpo F. Vuorio ,
Harri Sintonen  and
Timo E. Strandberg
Laura Hyttinen
Affiliation:
North Karelia Central Hospital
Päivi Kekäläinen
Affiliation:
North Karelia Central Hospital
Alpo F. Vuorio
Affiliation:
University of Helsinki (University Hospital of Helsinki)
Harri Sintonen
Affiliation:
University of Helskinki and Finnish Office for Health Technology Assessment, STAKES
Timo E. Strandberg
Affiliation:
University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital
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Abstract

Objectives: There are very few descriptions on how familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic disorder with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), affects older patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of elderly patients with FH.

Methods: All FH patients with the same FH North Karelia-mutation aged 65 and over living in North Karelia province in Eastern Finland were asked to participate in the study in 2003. They were compared with age-standardized controls from the Finnish general population. A total of forty-three elderly FH patients were identified and thirty-seven of them (aged 65 to 84 years, M/F 10/27) agreed to participate. Most of them (27/37) had been diagnosed with CHD. All but one of these FH patients had been using statins for approximately 15 years. HRQoL was assessed with the RAND-36 (SF-36) and 15D instruments.

Results: Despite the clear cardiovascular morbidity and low socioeconomic status, these FH patients enjoyed a similar HRQoL as the age-standardized controls in the general population.

Conclusions: Lifelong hypercholesterolemia was not associated with poorer HRQoL in elderly survivors of FH. These elderly FH individuals were characterized by their healthy lifestyle and long-term statin treatment.

Keywords

AgedFamilial hypercholesterolemiaHealth-related quality of lifeStatin medication
Type
GENERAL ESSAYS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , April 2008 , pp. 228 - 234
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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