Case studies
Lipid management and familial hypercholesterolaemia
April 26, 2022
UCLPartners helped partners improve lipid management and identify people at risk of familial hypercholesterolaemia earlier to prevent avoidable cardiovascular disease.
Challenge
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes a quarter of all deaths in the UK and remains the largest cause of premature mortality in deprived areas.
High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors, but many people with hypercholesterolaemia, including familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), are undiagnosed or not receiving the right treatment at the right time.
To reduce avoidable death and disability, healthcare teams need practical ways to identify people at risk, optimise treatment and connect them with appropriate care across the whole pathway.
What we did
We worked with NHS trusts, primary care services and community teams to improve lipid management across our geography.
We supported implementation of the Health Innovation Network FH and Lipid Management programme. This focussed on better cholesterol management, increased detection of FH and more effective use of medicines across the NICE-recommended pathway.
We also collaborated with the North Thames Genomic Medicine Service Alliance to pilot an approach with primary care networks, using electronic health records to identify people who may have FH and support them into appropriate care. Alongside this, we worked with local stakeholders to embed inclisiran within updated lipid pathways, helping high-risk patients access additional treatment options when statins alone were not enough.
To support clinical teams, we delivered webinars and education covering CVD risk factors, national cholesterol priorities, lipid optimisation, FH pathways and local implementation examples. These sessions gave clinicians and managers practical tools, evidence and confidence to improve care.
Outcome
The programme strengthened local capability to find and support people at high risk of CVD. By combining pathway redesign, clinical education, primary care searches, genomic expertise and access to newer treatment options, UCLPartners helped partners move from ambition to practical action. The work created a clearer route for identifying people with FH, optimising lipid management and supporting more consistent care across settings.
Most importantly, the approach focused on people who may otherwise remain at avoidable risk. By helping clinicians spot risk earlier and act more confidently, the programme supports better prevention, more personalised treatment and progress towards reducing premature cardiovascular disease.
Webinars
Managing CVD risk factors
This webinar covers:
- Practical session for clinicians as to why AF, Blood Pressure and cholesterol all needs to be managed
- Show the case for change and how, in practice, a patient could be managed
- Promote the PC framework approach
Resources:
Cholesterol – A national priority & understanding the national pathway
This webinar covers:
- National ambitions for cholesterol
- Drivers and incentives for delivery
- The national AAC / NHSE pathway and current gaps in delivery
Resources:
Optimising lipid management
This webinar covers:
- Demonstrate the Proactive Care framework for lipids
- Lifestyle and behaviour change
- Statins and intensification of therapy beyond statins – ezetimibe, inclisiran, PCSK9i mAB and bempedoic acid
- Primary and secondary prevention case studies
Resources:
Lipid management: case study on implementation of the proactive care frameworks in BHR
This webinar covers:
- Show case the role of pharmacy in managing high risk patients
- Show case the approach taken in the administration of inclisiran in north east London through Redbridge PTF
- Highlight suggested training and competencies
- Allow time for breakouts/ discussion as to what support local systems need to make this happen
Resources:
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia – overview
This webinar covers:
- What is FH
- How can it be managed
- Demonstrate pathway for FH
- Case study from North east London
Resources: