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. Methods and 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 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.