Objective: To identify cardiovascular risk factors in a self-reported series of local Huntington’s disease participants in the ENROLL-HD registry

Background: Population studies have contributed to provide important data on Huntington´s disease (HD). They are very useful to identify comorbidities among the HD population, being the cardiovascular diseases (CV) the most common underlying cause of death regarding this disorder.
Autonomic dysfunction has been reported in manifest as well as in premanifest HD patients, favoring (or leading) a higher cardiovascular risk. There are several studies that link depression to cardiovascular diseases. It was initially considered to be a consequence of the cardiovascular disease severity, it was later recognized as an associated condition, considered as an independent risk factor with poorer outcomes in these patients. This is why it is necessary to recognize and treat the depression correctly to improve the quality of life as well as the cardiological comorbidities of these patients.

Method: We conducted an observational retrospective study. Local database of individuals included in ENROLL –HD registry from 2015 to 2019 was analysed. We examined the information regarding self-reported concomitant diseases as well as concomitant medications to identify possible CV risk factors. Statistical analysis was performed.

Results: The cohort was composed of a total of 64 HD patients (10 premanifests and 54 manifests), the mean age was 47.79 years old. The distribution by gender was 36 female and 28 male. The following CV risk factors we identified: dyslipidemia (DLP) in 4/64 (6.25%), arrhythmia: 1/64 (1.57%), blood hypertension: 1/64 (1.57 %). We included depression as a CV risk factor, being reported in almost half of the patients, 29/64 (45.31 %).

Conclusion: These results suggest that cardiovascular risk factors appear poorly explored in the HD population. Taking into account that CV diseases constitute one of the main causes of death among these patients, as well as the fact that many pharmacological interventions available with respect to HD could contribute to aggravate this risk (eg prolongation of the QT interval, etc.) and that depression is a risk factor both to develop and to aggravate it, taking into account the high prevalence of this comorbidity in these patients, it is necessary to pay timely attention to avoid complications that worsen the evolution of the disease.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/cardiovascular-risk-factors-in-a-pre-manifest-and-manifest-population-of-huntingtons-disease/