DIAgnosis and Management Of familial hypercholesterolemia in a Nationwide Design (DIAMOND-FH): Prevalence in Switzerland, clinical characteristics and the diagnostic value of clinical scores

In 7 of 2221 individuals, FH (LDLR) was diagnosed (prevalence of FH due to LDLR variants: 1/317, prevalence of FH due to both LDLR and APOB variants: 1/125 to 1/135). In FH (APOB) patients under 35 years of age, mean total cholesterol (TC) was <8.5 mmoL/L but increased above 35. In FH (LDLR), TC was >8.5 mmoL/L in all age groups. This difference was crucial for the diagnosis of FH and resulted in a significantly lower sensitivity of clinical scores in FH (APOB) (DLCN: 13.8%, p < 0.0001; SBDC: 22.5%, p = 0.005). Thus, both scores were not useful for the definite diagnosis of FH due to APOB variants. Regarding the cardiovascular outcome, no differences (LDLR versus APOB) were found above 60 years. In countries with high percentages of FH due to APOB variants, cascade screening and molecular testing appear to be much more cost-effective.