Russian research program evaluating the extent of underdiagnosed and undertreated of familial hypercholesterolaemia in the working-age population

The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the extent to which familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is underdiagnosed and undertreated in the Russian Federation for reduction of cardiovascular risk related to atherosclerosis in the country. The target population: subjects of both sexes aged 7  75 years of age. As a first step, total cholesterol (TC) level will be determined in a random sample from Moscow population (n=17912). The number of subjects with TC level ≥7.5 mmol/L is 1505 (8%). During 2014, approximately 500 patients will pass through non-invasive clinical examination at the Russian Cardiology Research and Production Complex, including patient demographics, past medical history, family history of hypercholesterolemia, physical findings, current lipid-lowering therapies, blood tests, genetic analysis, echocardiography, carotid duplex ultrasound and exercise SPECT imaging in selected cases. On the basis of the Moscow Program four major Federal Medical Centers will be involved, and Russian FH Community with FH Registry will be created as a national, multi-center initiative to screen FH patients, control their diagnosis and management, and track clinical-reported outcomes over time. Establishment of national recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of FH on the basis of these data and implementation those into physicians’ practice in different regions of Russia will allow improving patient care. As an expected outcome, this program will raise awareness and increase appropriate assessment and treatment of FH patients in Russia by 25-30% compared to baseline situation, leading to a timely detection of the disease and therapy initiation.