“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 I have been working as a nurse practitioner in the Department of Vascular Medicine at UMC Utrecht since 2013. Before that, I worked for many years as a nurse on 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 subsequently completed the nurse practitioner training program. During my training, I received intensive supervision from one of the internists, during which I specialized 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 challenge here is that people don’t feel sick but still have to take medication to prevent disease. I also provide lifestyle advice when necessary. I help people take their medication properly and explain the importance of getting enough exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Additionally, I advise people with FH to avoid products high in animal fat as much as possible.

Identifying people with FH is also an important part of my work. I serve as a regional consultant for the LEEFH Foundation. By detecting FH early, treatment can begin promptly, allowing us to prevent or delay cardiovascular disease to a significant extent.

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