Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Understanding Inherited High Cholesterol

Understand and manage familial hypercholesterolemia for future generations

Unlock the key to understanding and managing familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an inherited condition causing high cholesterol levels. This online course equips you with essential skills to identify, diagnose, and support patients with FH.

Understand the physiology of familial hypercholesterolemia and clinical criteria

On the first two weeks of this course, you’ll delve into the physiology of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and understand the clinical criteria for identifying this condition.

You’ll discover why FH is considered a significant health priority and learn how healthcare professionals play a crucial role in managing this genetic disorder.

Learn the critical role of family history in diagnosing familial hypercholesterolemia

By the second half of this course, you’ll consider family history as a diagnostic tool for FH. You’ll do so by exploring methods to collect pertinent family history information and practise the skill of drawing a family tree.

You’ll understand how family history can reveal risks and aid in managing familial hypercholesterolemia effectively.

Explore the principles of consent in genomic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia

You’ll wrap up this course by discussing the principles of consent during genomic testing consultations for FH. You’ll promote ethical practices by learning how to document genomic conversations accurately and ensure patients are well-informed about testing options.

By completing this course, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of familial hypercholesterolemia to become a key player in the management of patient interventions for FH.

The course was created with support from Northumbria University and Wessex FH Service (Central & South GMSA).

This course is ideal for healthcare professionals involved in the identification and care of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, including those in cardiac services, lipid services, primary care, and genetic counselling roles.

This course is ideal for healthcare professionals involved in the identification and care of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, including those in cardiac services, lipid services, primary care, and genetic counselling roles.

• Develop improved knowledge and a deeper understanding of FH including the needs of the individual and family diagnosed with this inherited condition.
• Identify those at risk of FH and provide information and support during the patient journey.
• Apply the principles of genomic counselling and testing and the implications of genomic results. Describe the role of the multi-disciplinary team and have an awareness of one's own professional responsibilities in the management of patients with FH.