The frequency of familial hypercholesterolemia amongst patients in the outpatient clinic of the tertiary specialized cardiology center in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract Background Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is frequently underdiagnosed. Prevalence of the FH in Kyrgyzstan is unknown. Aim to investigate the prevalence of FH amongst patients in the outpatient settings of the tertiary cardiologic center in Kyrgyzstan. Methods Retrospective observational study was conducted using the database of the laboratory of biochemistry and electronic database of outpatient department of the National Center of Cardiology and internal diseases. Patient with the level of total cholesterol (TC) ≥7,5 mmol/l and/or low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 4,9 mmol/l without signs of secondary hyperlipidemia were included in the analysis. FH was defined using Dutch Lipid Clinic Network criteria. Results according to the laboratory database levels of TC and LDL-C was conducted in 8281patiens and 525 of them had a high lipid levels. After exclusion of patients with secondary hyperlipidemia, high level of triglycerides and pregnant women – 91 patients were included in the analysis. Among them the definite FH was revealed in 2 (2,2%) patients, probable FH - in 6 (6,6%), and possible in 76 (83,5%), and in 7,7% there were no signs of FH. Conclusion Frequency of potential FH (definite and probable) in our analysis was low. To understand the real prevalence of FH in a Kyrgyz population epidemiological study is needed.