title: Prevalence and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia in coronary patients: An analysis of EUROASPIRE IV, a study of the European Society of Cardiology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a hereditary disorder predisposing to premature coronary heart disease (CHD) and is until now mainly diagnosed clinically on the basis of a classical phenotype. Its prevalence varies and is estimated around 1 in 200-500; in patients with established CHD the prevalence is less well documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In EUROASPIRE IV data were collected in coronary patients from 24 European countries by means of a standardized interview, bioclinical examination and venous blood sampling. Potential FH was estimated using an adapted version of the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Criteria. Among the 7044 patients eligible for analysis, the prevalence of potential FH was 8.3%; 7.5% in men and 11.1% in women. The prevalence was inversely related to age with a putative prevalence of 1:5 in those with CHD <50 yrs of age in both sexes. Even among women aged 70 the prevalence was 1:10. Irrespective of age and gender, prevalence differed substantially between European regions; potential FH patients were more likely to smoke, had higher triglycerides levels and their blood pressure was less well controlled. The use of cardioprotective drugs and the prevalences of diabetes, obesity and central obesity were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of potential FH in coronary patients is high; the results underscore the need to promote identification of FH in CHD patients and to improve their risk factor profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: guy.debacker@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Backer
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Besseling
authors.affiliation: INSERM and University of Pierre and Marie Curie, Pitié-Salpétrière University Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G Kees
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Hovingh
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: John J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kastelein
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Medicine, International Centre for Circulatory Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kornelia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotseva
authors.affiliation: St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kausik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Željko
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Reiner
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Medicine, International Centre for Circulatory Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Bacquer
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Coronary heart disease; Familial hypercholesterolaemia; Prevalence; Risk factors