We are committed to addressing the significant gaps in care facing those living with familial hypercholesterolemia. The current draft recommendations could have negative and far-reaching implications for FH screening, diagnosis and care.
The FH Foundation requested that the USPSTF "strongly consider the enhanced risk for individuals with FH of early onset cardiovascular disease and the critical need to intervene with statin-based treatment regimens to prevent adverse outcomes." In addition, we emphasized the fact that FH is a life-long, serious genetic disorder that is often undetected and untreated leading to high rates of cardiovascular disease in the prime of life. The FH Foundation underlined in their statement that data shows that childhood lipid screening allows for timely identification and optimal treatment of those born with FH.
We are grateful to all of the healthcare providers and patients who submitted comments, highlighting the need to distinguish FH from other causes of high cholesterol with regard to screening and treatment.
