Key result
Familial hypercholesterolemia remains widely underdiagnosed and undertreated across Latin America amid systemic healthcare barriers.
Why the study?
Familial hypercholesterolemia remains largely underdiagnosed and undertreated across Latin America despite its high prevalence and the benefits of early identification and treatment.
Highlights the urgent need for structured cascade screening, expanded genetic testing, and improved access to potent lipid-lowering therapies to reduce the burden of familial hypercholesterolemia in Latin America.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“Familial hypercholesterolemia remains markedly underdiagnosed and undertreated across Latin America. Despite important progress in recent years, major gaps persist in detection, access to treatment, cascade screening, registries, and coordinated national strategies. In this review, we discuss the current landscape across the region, the barriers that continue to limit optimal care, and the opportunities to move forward. A lot has been achieved — but there is still much to do for FH in Latin America.”
Underdiagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia persists in Latin America; leaves optimal implementation of cascade screening and therapy access open for prospective study.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common monogenic disorder predisposing individuals to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Despite an estimated prevalence of 1 in 250 individuals, FH remains largely underdiagnosed and undertreated across Latin America, where more than 2 million people are expected to be living with FH. Early identification and intensive lipid-lowering therapy substantially improve clinical outcomes; however, multiple structural, socioeconomic, and educational barriers continue to limit optimal care throughout the region. FH detection rates remain low, and screening strategies are implemented heterogeneously: while opportunistic screening is emerging in some settings, cascade screening remains underdeveloped, with the exception of pioneering programs in Brazil and Uruguay. Real-world data from regional registries consistently demonstrate poor attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets, partly due to the predominant use of statin monotherapy. Strengthening clinical registries, expanding access to genetic testing, implementing structured cascade screening programs, and improving availability of effective lipid-lowering therapies are essential steps to reduce the clinical and public health burden of FH in Latin America.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
K et al. (2026) conducted a review in Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Screening strategies and lipid-lowering therapies was evaluated. Familial hypercholesterolemia remains largely underdiagnosed and undertreated in Latin America due to multiple structural, socioeconomic, and educational barriers.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: