The Role of Genetic Counselors for Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common inherited cause of premature coronary heart disease and leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Genetic counselors are specialized health care professionals with advanced degrees and training in both medical genetics and psychosocial counseling. FH patients and their families require focused education regarding the heritable nature of their disease, the risk to family members, the necessity of cascade screening, and the availability of genetic testing. Patients and families may also benefit from additional services genetic counselors provide, such as psychosocial support and other resources. All of these services are well-established components of the genetic counseling process. Therefore, genetic counselors can serve as a valuable resource to FH patients, their families, and the multidisciplinary team of clinicians providing care for these patients.