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Familial Hypercholesterolaemia: Challenges In Primary Care, Tom Brett, Gerald F. Watts, Jacquie Garton-Smith, Damon A. Bell, Alistair W. Vickery, Jing Pang, Diane Arnold-Reed

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Familial hypercholesterolaemia remains largely unrecognised and undertreated in Australian primary care. A new approach involving increased awareness, early detection, lifelong treatment and cascade testing of relatives is essential to improve outcomes of patients with this disorder.

Key Points

• Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a relatively common inherited disorder of high cholesterol levels.
• FH can lead to atherosclerosis, premature coronary artery disease and early death if left untreated.
• Cascade testing of relatives of patients with FH is cost- effective and necessary as one in two will have the condition.
• Innovations in primary care can improve FH detection in the community.
• An integrated …

Challenges In The Care Of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A Community Care Perspective, Tom Brett, Gerald F. Watts, Diane Arnold-Reed, Damon Bell, Jacquie Garton-Smith, Alistair W. Vickery, Jacqueline D. Ryan, Jing Pang

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Familial hyperchoelsterolaemia (FH) remains under-diagnosed and under-treated in the community setting. Earlier evidence suggested prevalence of 1:500 worldwide but newer evidence suggests it is more common. Less than 15% of FH patients are ever diagnosed with children and young adults rarely tested despite having most to gain given their lifetime exposure.

Increasing awareness among primary care teams is critical to improve detection profile for FH. Cascade testing in the community setting needs a sustainable approach to be developed to facilitate family tracing of index cases. The use of the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Criteria score to facilitate a phenotypic diagnosis …