Gaps in the Care of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia in Australia: First Report From the National Registry.

Jing Pang; David R Sullivan; David L Hare; David M Colquhoun; Timothy R Bates; Jacqueline D M Ryan; Warrick Bishop; John R Burnett; Damon A Bell; Leon A Simons; Sam Mirzaee; Karam M Kostner; Paul J Nestel; Andrew M Wilson; Richard C O'Brien; Edward D Janus; Peter M Clifton; Justin J Ardill; Dick C Chan; Frank van Bockxmeer; Gerald F Watts;
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is under-diagnosed and under-treated worldwide, including Australia. National registries play a key role in identifying patients with FH, understanding gaps in care and advancing the science of FH to improve care for these patients.The FH Australasia Network has established a national web-based registry to raise awareness of the condition, facilitate service planning and inform best practice and care services in Australia. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1,528 FH adults enrolled in the registry from 28 lipid clinics.The mean age at enrolment was 53.4±15.1 years, 50.5% were male and 54.3% had undergone FH genetic testing, of which 61.8% had a pathogenic FH-causing gene variant. Only 14.0% of the cohort were family members identified through cascade testing. Coronary artery disease (CAD) was reported in 28.0% of patients (age of onset 49.0±10.5 years) and 64.9% had at least one modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. The mean untreated LDL-cholesterol was 7.4±2.5 mmol/L. 80.8% of patients were on lipid-lowering therapy with a mean treated LDL-cholesterol of 3.3±1.7 mmol/L. Among patients receiving lipid-lowering therapies, 25.6% achieved an LDL-cholesterol target of <2.5 mmol/L without CAD or <1.8 mmol/L with CAD.Patients in the national FH registry are detected later in life, have a high burden of CAD and risk factors, and do not achieve guideline-recommended LDL-cholesterol targets. Genetic and cascade testing are under-utilised. These deficiencies in care need to be addressed as a public health priority.
Journal HEART, LUNG & CIRCULATION
ISSN 1444-2892
Published 01 Mar 2021
Volume 30
Issue 3
Pages 372-379
DOI 10.1016/j.hlc.2020.07.012
Type Journal Article | Multicenter Study
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