[Higher prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia than expected in adult patients of four family practices in Netherlands].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH).


METHODS
Patient record screening, questionnaire and if necessary, case finding.


METHODS
Over the period mid-1990-mid-1992 (approximately 2.5 years) 8,800 adult individuals (age 18 years and over) in 4 general practices in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, were screened for risk factors for coronary artery disease and invited for further analysis. Of the 3,289 selected and invited individuals 2,719 (83%) were investigated. Total cholesterol concentrations were investigated 3 times and if the mean value was above 8.0 mmol/l patients were referred to a lipid clinic to investigate the possible existence of FH.


RESULTS
114 patients were eligible for referral to a lipid clinic of whom 92 (81%) were indeed referred. Of these, 38 patients were diagnosed with FH: 23 men and 15 women, with a mean age of 47.7 years (range: 21-74).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of FH in this investigated population was at least 1:232. This is more than 1:500, the estimated number of FH patients in the Dutch population.
Academisch Medisch Centrum, afd. Vasculaire Geneeskunde, DD Amsterdam.
P J
PJ
Lansberg
S
S
Tuzgöl
M A
MA
van de Ree
J C
JC
Defesche
J J
JJ
Kastelein
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation
D002784:Cholesterol