Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic condition in which high cholesterol levels are passed down in families, increasing the risk of premature heart disease significantly in these individuals.
There are approximately 20,000 people affected in Singapore, and less than 10% are diagnosed at present. Many people with FH do not show physical signs and may feel fine until they experience heart problems such as a heart attack. Hence, FH has been called a "silent disease."
At the NUH Centre for Precision Health (CPH), we believe more can be done to identify and provide these individuals with the right care for them and their families through the help of genetic testing and cascade screening.
These materials provide more information about FH, describe the criteria used to diagnose FH, and discuss the different treatment and management options for the disease.
Do you know if you or your family members have Familial Hypercholesterolemia?
Watch videos for experiences, challenges and needs of actual FH patients, identified from interviews with them:
The CPH has been actively involved in education and outreach within the NUHS community by conducting talks at polyclinics, participating in roadshows and events in collaboration with the Singapore Heart Foundation and the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital FHCARE team to bring about awareness on FH to the public and medical community alike. Find out more about the FH initiative here.
To service the western cluster of Singapore, the CPH strives to develop a cohesive patient management system for FH within the NUHS. By establishing a cut-off criteria based on LDL-C levels for patients at risk of FH, doctors within the primary care network can actively look out for these patients and treat for FH or refer them to the FH Clinics set up at the National University Hospital, the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and the Alexandra Hospital for specialised care.
