Familial hypercholesterolaemia in Australia: New insights and developments

Abstract

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is the most common and serious type of inherited hyperlipidaemia. It causes premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), in particular coronary heart disease (CHD), bringing forward the onset of CVD by one to four decades.1

Although early detection and management can slow the progression of atherosclerosis, there are concerns that the majority of people with FH in Australia and New Zealand are undiagnosed and those diagnosed are often undertreated.1 Similarly, in the United Kingdom, HEART UK, which supports patients with FH, reported recently that only 15% of patients with FH in the UK were aware they had the condition. In addition, a third of 455 respondents to an online survey did not know that abnormal cholesterol levels could be inherited