Recently two independent groups of researchers have shown that heart attacks are less frequent in those with a low ‘bad’cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) if their ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) is normal or high. HDL cholesterol is still an important risk factor even though drugs (statins) may have reduced LDL cholesterol to very low levels. Life style factors that help to maintain the level of ‘good’ cholesterol are not smoking, having a normal body weight and taking regular exercise.
NICE provisionally recommended in September 2021 that an RNA-based drug, Inclisiran, be used by the NHS for those people with a high cholesterol (LDL >2.6 mmol/L) who have already had a heart attack or stroke.
Any of a large group of disorders of lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolism resulting in higher than normal cholesterol and lipoprotein levels in the blood. Some of the disorders are hereditary (e.g., familial hypercholesterolaemia) whereas others are acquired.
Premature coronary heart disease can result from the inheritance of a genetic defect from one parent that raises the blood plasma cholesterol concentration from birth. If the condition familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is detected early, treatment can prevent premature disease. At present all close relatives of an affected individual are offered screening tests. A UK study published in The New England Journal of Medicine on 27 October 2016 found that screening all toddlers during a routine vaccination visit to 92 general practice surgeries identified both children and parents at risk. Of 10,095 one year old children who were tested over three years, 28 (0.3%) were found to have FH; 28 parents also had FH of whom 25 started cholesterol-lowering treatment.