The Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL) launched an extensive study on familial hypercholesterolemia, also known as high cholesterol, in October 2021. About 2,800 pupils from primary schools in Luxembourg City have since been invited to participate in this analysis, half of whom have been followed up until February 2023 with the agreement of their parents.
Thanks to a small drop of blood taken from participants’ fingertips, the researchers were able to measure the children’s cholesterol levels. Too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to adverse health consequences, such as cardiovascular problems.
Cholesterol is often increased by an unhealthy lifestyle, but high cholesterol can also be genetically inherited.
When high cholesterol is detected in a child, levels might also be problematic in other family members. The advantage of early detection is that quick management can, with the help of medication, reduce the cardiovascular risks that might occur later.
Following the initial tests, 14 children were invited to contact the relevant department of the CHL paediatric clinic due to high cholesterol levels. However, not all of them responded to this invitation.
In three cases, doubt arose about the potential of a genetic disease. All of them are being treated by the CHL services.
