Vascular Microcalcification: Diagnostic Approach, Statistical Modeling, and the Need for Comprehensive Management of Children from the Ukrainian Familial Hypercholesterolemia Registry

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children. The identification of early predictors of cardiovascular pathology is crucial for effective management. The objective: to develop a statistical model that significantly predicts the mGla protein level, a marker of vascular microcalcification, in children with FH by analyzing the relationships between dietary habits, health-related quality of life, physical activity energy expenditure, extended lipid profile, dp-uc MGP protein levels, and results from instrumental examinations. Materials and methods. Food habits, quality of life, energy expenditure for physical activity, lipid profiles, and dp-uc MGP protein levels were assessed in children from the Ukrainian FH registry. A multivariate regression model was developed to identify significant predictors of cardiovascular pathology, namely the level of the vascular microcalcification biomarker. Results. The regression model demonstrated that the predictors explained 91.01% of the variance (R2 = 0.91; p < 0.0001). Age and cholesterol intake were significant predictors (β = 19.16; p = 0.0039 and β = 0.70; p = 0.0013, respectively). These results highlight the impact of chronic cholesterol exposure on cardiovascular health in children with HF. Conclusions. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to the treatment of HF, combining medical and psychosocial support, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications in pediatric patients.