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New guidelines for high cholesterol sufferers

27/08/2008

New guidelines have been announced today aimed at reducing the number of deaths in people who inherit high cholesterol.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care today published the guidelines on the care and treatment of adults and children with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH).

The particular type of cholesterol is caused by inherited genetic mutation and effects one in 500 people and if undetected can result in unnecessary illness and early death from coronary heart disease.

Today's guideline recommends the use of cascade testing to identify those individuals who will benefit from early treatment and the near-normal life expectancy that can result.

Where FH is suspected, doctors should ask about family histories and the use of DNA testing should help the early identification of the condition.

For children at risk of FH, because of an affected parent, diagnostic tests should be carried out by the time they reach the age of 10, the guidelines suggest.

Dr Rubin Minhas, Nice's guideline development group chair said: "By pulling together the best available evidence and advances in technology with professional and patient expertise, this guideline provides the NHS with a pragmatic and effective blueprint for reducing tens of thousands of deaths from premature heart disease."

At present, it is understood that 50 per cent of men with untreated FH will suffer a heart attack by the age of 50, and 30 per cent of women will suffer a heart attack by the age of 60.

Professor Andrew Neil, professor of clinical epidemiology and guideline development group member added: "These recommendations mean that patients throughout the country will benefit from a consistent and coherent approach to the management and treatment of their condition.

"By bringing together everything we know about the diagnosis and management of FH, healthcare professionals will be best placed to offer individuals and their families the highest standard of care that they deserve."