Detection of familial hypercholesterolaemia: a major treatment gap in preventative cardiology.
Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a common genetic disorder that untreated has an almost one hundredfold risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). In an audit of 334 patients with premature CAD admitted to a Department of Cardiology, only 60% of medical records had sufficient clinical information for identifying FH. Of those with sufficient information recorded, 54% of patients had possible to definite FH on recognised clinical criteria. Amongst those with FH, only 38% were on statin therapy and only 22% were treated to National Heart Foundation targets. Detection and treatment of FH represents a major gap in coronary prevention.
Lipid Disorders Clinic and Department of Internal Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, GPO Box X2213, Perth, Western Australia 6847, Australia.
Timothy R
TR
Bates
John R
JR
Burnett
Frank M
FM
van Bockxmeer
Sandra
S
Hamilton
Leonard
L
Arnolda
Gerald F
GF
Watts
D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors