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The guidelines from NHS say that for those over 30 with levels of more than 9 mmol/l and those under 30 with levels of more 7.5 mmol/l, high-dose statins should be offered.
“New guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) calls on GPs to dig out medical records to find who may be carrying the gene defect that afflicts them with high cholesterol levels, a condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).Amid growing concerns that cases of high cholesterol are going undetected, Nice argues prescribing the drugs to children as young as 10 could minimize the risk of them suffering from heart disease when they reach middle age. Although it is believed up to 260,000 people – including 56,000 children – are suffering from the genetic defect, only 15 percent are actually being treated for the condition. Some 600 of those are children.”1
Familial hypercholesterolemia is serious and often goes undiagnosed. However, doctors believe that treating early in childhood will allow people to live normal lives with normal life expectancies. (Males affected by the condition have a 50 percent chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke before the age of 50, while females have a one in three chance by the age of 60. If someone is child or sibling of someone with the condition, they have 50 percent chance of contracting the FH themselves.2)
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However, the charity Heart UK doesn’t believe their plan goes far enough and has instead called for a national screening program to identify those with FM.
