If not treated early, nearly 50% of men and 20% of women with familial hypercholesterolemia may have infarction before 50 years of age.
Men over 50 and women after menopause are most affected by this metabolic problem. This condition can also occur in children and young people, in this case, almost always as a manifestation of a disease of genetic origin, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).
If not treated early, this metabolic disorder, characterized by levels of cholesterol in the blood of two to four times above normal, it can take 50% of men and 20% of women having heart attack before age 50, with high possibility death or compromised quality of life.
"The problem is so worrisome that only 20% of men with HF to reach 70 years old," explains Dr. Raul Dias dos Santos Filho, coordinator of Genetic Screening for Familial Hypercholesterolemia Incor, the Hipercol Brazil.
Despite the risk of disease, it is little known by the population and even by health professionals. A study in 14 countries showed that only 20% of patients are diagnosed with HF, 16% use drugs and only 7% are on adequate treatment for disease control. In Brazil, the situation may be even more dramatic.
A campaign for all ages
Incor's campaign on 8 August is open to the entire population. There is no age restriction to participate: they will be met from children to seniors, male and female, through the distribution of 500 passwords.The action team Incor consists in measuring the level of total cholesterol in the blood, the result will come out on time, followed by guidance from nutritionists and distribution of educational brochures for prevention and control of high cholesterol.
During the campaign, people who are diagnosed with cholesterol level compatible with familial hypercholesterolemia are invited, along with their families, to participate in the Hipercol Brazil.
In Incor Program, it will be the refinement of diagnosis, with the completion of several laboratory tests and imaging, genetic mapping to identify genes linked to disease, and treatment with art therapy.
People who have a history of high cholesterol or heart attack before 50 years of age in the family who can not participate in the campaign Incor should seek medical care in the health system to avert the risk of familial hypercholesterolemia.
Knowledge can change the background of the disease
The Hipercol has two fronts. The first aims to find and properly treat the affected families of HF, the prospect of improving life for these patients. Unlike what happens with most genetic diseases, familial hypercholesterolemia, fortunately, is treated effectively with medication and lifestyle changes, especially with regard to diet and physical activity. "With these measures, we can reduce by 60% the risk of incidence of myocardial infarction and a 30% chance of death from cardiovascular disease in these patients," Dr. Santos Filho.
Another area of great importance in the performance of researchers from the Program is the generation of new knowledge. "We want to know in detail the genetic profile of the disease in Brazil, because the population of this country has a unique genetic content on the planet, due to various waves of immigrants," explains project coordinator.
"Additionally, we will study the influence of genes in response to treatment, in order to arrive in the future, individualized therapy," explains Dr. Alexander Pereira, a cardiologist and researcher at the Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology Incor, which aggregates Hipercol staff, in conjunction with the Clinical Unit of Dyslipidemia.
The Hipercol also result in an important contribution, as it will create a model for identification, diagnosis and treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia which will be transferred to other units of the public health system. "We want to contribute strongly to the reversion of the bleak picture of the disease in this country."
Looks can be deceiving
Eludes those who think that only fat middle-aged men are unbeaten in competitive streak of high cholesterol. Most times people are unaware that race. Postmenopausal women, men, young and thin and even children can enter this group at risk for heart disease. Even those who take care of diet and exercise regularly may be distracted in this group. That's because high cholesterol, and its extreme case, familial hypercholesterolemia, not sending warning: do not cause pain or discomfort until one day the heart fails, the brain breaks down and arteries throughout the body are compromised by the process of atherosclerosis .
The problem is only detected by blood test, doctors say, should be performed to this end, from the age of 10, or even from two years of life, in the case of evidence of familial hypercholesterolemia.
According to Dr. Santos Filho, although the HF affects 1 / 500 people in the general population, in families affected by the disease the situation is far more serious: 1 in 2 individuals in this family can have the disease.
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