Clear explanations and information are important!

Nurse specialists Stan Kolman, Annemiek Bogerd, and Ymke Broers work together with internists at the vascular outpatient clinic of the Diakonessenhuis Utrecht and Zeist when it comes to detecting and treating familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

LEEFH center for quite some time

The vascular outpatient clinic has been a LEEFH center for quite some time now. The hospital started this when the population screening program and the StOEH ended in 2013. During the StOEH period, the relationship between the Diakonessenhuis and the StOEH was already very close. Marcel van de Ree, an internist and vascular specialist, was already fully committed to family screening and treatment at that time. This intensive collaboration has continued with the LEEFH foundation. Everyone is very pleased with the development of regional LEEFH centers, which will continue the work of the StOEH.

If FH is found in the family, Marcel van de Ree immediately involves the patient's family. It is important to also test the family for the FH mutation that has been found. This is known as family screening. The Diakonessenhuis hospital has been doing this intensively for many years. In practice, it has been found that medication with a statin, cholesterol absorption inhibitor, or, if necessary, a PCSK-9 inhibitor, combined with a healthy lifestyle, is essential in the treatment of FH.

Stan: "In addition, good explanation and information are important, because ultimately it is a genetic issue." "Involve people in determining the risk."

Children

Annemiek and Stan are in complete agreement: with FH, you want to start early to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease at an early stage. This concerns treatment, but also the moment you start testing children. For children with FH, it is important to pay attention to healthy nutrition, sufficient exercise, and, above all, not to start smoking. Children can start taking medication from the age of 8. If the family screening at the Diakonessenhuis hospital shows that other children in the family also have FH, they are referred at a young age to the pediatrician with whom we work closely.

Focus more on prevention

The vascular outpatient clinic focuses heavily on primary prevention and has been doing so increasingly intensively in recent years. "Getting people to recognize the risk is very interesting," says Annemiek. "If you make people aware of the risks and possibilities, cardiovascular disease can potentially be prevented. For example, we talk to patients about the target cholesterol levels for their situation and how they can achieve them. Our goal for the coming years is to continue to provide good care and information and to help as many families with FH as possible."

text: Aefke ten Hagen
images: Stan Kolman, Ymke Broers, and Annemiek Bogerd