Effect of statin treatment for familial hypercholesterolaemia on life assurance: results of consecutive surveys in 1990 and 2002
- 26 February 2004
- Vol. 328 (7438) , 500-501
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7438.500
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolaemia is an autosomal dominant disorder, inherited on average by one in two children of an affected parent. The prevalence in the United Kingdom is about 1:500, but at least three quarters of cases remain undiagnosed.3 It is usually caused by mutations in the gene for the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor that result in accumulation of plasma cholesterol and substantially increased coronary mortality. Without effective treatment the cumulative risk of a coronary event is at least 50% in men and 30% in women by the age of 60 years.4 With statin treatment, however, the standardised mortality ratio for coronary heart disease for such patients aged 20-59 years has more than halved over the past decade.2Keywords
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