“My goal is to prevent cardiovascular disease!” 

LEEFH spoke with Corien Flint, a nurse specialist in the Vascular Medicine department at UMC Utrecht. UMCU is one of the regional LEEFH centers. What does she encounter in practice in the field of familial hypercholesterolemia?

My name is Corien Flint, and since 2013, I have been working as a nurse practitioner in the Vascular Medicine department at UMC Utrecht. Prior to that, I worked for a long time as a nurse in the cardiothoracic surgery (heart surgery) and cardiology wards.

A nurse practitioner is a nurse who has completed additional training at the master's level. I studied Nursing Science and then trained as a nurse practitioner. During my training, I received intensive guidance from one of the internists, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of (difficult-to-treat) high blood pressure and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

My goal is to prevent cardiovascular disease in people. That is the most important thing. The difficult part is that people do not feel sick and still have to take medication to prevent disease. I also give lifestyle advice when necessary. I support people in taking their medication correctly and explain to them the importance of getting enough exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. I also advise people with FH to avoid products with a high animal fat content as much as possible.

Identifying people with FH is also an important part of my work. I am affiliated with the LEEFH foundation as a regional consultant. By identifying FH early on, treatment can be started in a timely manner and we can largely prevent or delay cardiovascular disease.

In my work, I really enjoy interacting with patients. I get to meet lots of different people. Familial hypercholesterolemia can affect anyone.