Dr Salih Ali Al Marri
A little known condition, familial hypercholesterolemia, along with various other diseases, is resulting in a peculiar pattern of high blood cholesterol in the region that is much different from the rest of the world, according to experts.
More than half of the high-risk patients do not achieve target cholesterol control in Gulf countries, according to experts at a recently concluded scientific conference.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently organised, in collaboration Hamad Medical Corporation and Sanofi, a two-day educational scientific programme to tackle high cholesterol. The event, led by renowned national and international cardiologists and endocrinologists, emphasised the need for adopting effective and timely measures to ensure improved blood cholesterol management in patients to address cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks.
“People with underlying conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes often have high cholesterol. In the region, adults also suffer from familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a little known inherited condition associated with high cholesterol that can result in early cardiovascular disease,” said Dr Mahmoud A Zirie, Senior Consultant Endocrinology, Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes, HMC.
Familial hypercholesterolemia is a disorder that is passed down through families. It causes LDL (bad) cholesterol level to be very high. The condition begins at birth and can cause heart attacks at an early age.
The high prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia along with hypertension, diabetes, and consanguineous marriages, in the Middle East region, results in a pattern of dyslipidemia (high amount of lipids in the blood) that is different from many other regions of the world. Early prevention and control of dyslipidemia is of paramount importance to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. (CVD).
There is a lack of data on familial hypercholesterolemia and the disease is severely under diagnosed in the region.
“People with FH are unable to process the body’s natural supply of cholesterol in the liver, leading to very high levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol that can block arteries (atherosclerosis) and lead to a heart attack or stroke. With the rising incidence of cardiovascular events leading to fatal outcomes, effective treatment protocol and innovative therapy options are necessary,” Dr Zirie explained.
Studies suggest that many patients on cholesterol management treatment continue to experience persistent abnormal lipid levels exposing them to a high risk of cardiovascular disease. This is also due to sub-optimal patient compliance and adherence to the prescribed treatment regime.
Around 61.8% of all patients and 69.5% of very high risk patients do not achieve target cholesterol control levels in the Gulf countries. Comprehensive surveillance, awareness, adherence to treatment regimens, as well as modification of lifestyle choices, is necessary to halt the rise in cardiovascular disease-related mortality.
The programme included scientific presentations on dyslipidemia management, guidelines for lipid management, updates on latest therapy advancements, and advanced workshops on optimal management based on case studies. Experts noted a large number of patients are faced with the challenge of achieving the recommended LDL cholesterol levels. “The Ministry through the National Health Strategy emphasizes the importance of medical education programmes for developing a highly skilled workforce. This is essential if we are to successfully implement our public health agenda and reduce the incidence of chronic diseases. Our effort is to better equip our health experts, enhance their knowledge and enable physicians to deliver the best outcomes for patients,” said Dr Salih Ali Al Marri.
