The Demographic and Lifestyle Characteristics of Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia Referred to a Dyslipidemia Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Single-Center Study.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the most prevalent dyslipidemia disorders. This study investigated the demographic and lifestyle characteristics of patients with FH referred to a dyslipidemia clinic. Methods: This 5-year, single-center cross-sectional study focused on patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels higher than 190 mg/dL referred to a dyslipidemia clinic in Tehran, Iran, between 2017 and 2022. The study examined their demographics, physical activity, and anxiety within the FH cohort. Results: A total of 1724 patients were referred to the dyslipidemia clinic. Of these patients, 44 were diagnosed with definite FH. The mean age and LDL-C level of the FH cohort were 38.84±16.85 years and 315.95±81.73 mg/dL, respectively. A significant correlation was found between LDL-C and body mass index (BMI) (correlation coefficient = -0.31, P=0.031) and total sleep duration (correlation coefficient = -0.40, P<0.000). No correlation was observed between age and physical activity or LDL-C levels. Additionally, no significant correlation was detected between the Dutch score and patients' LDL-C, BMI, age, or physical activity. Regression analysis indicated that BMI and total sleep duration were independent predictors of LDL-C in the FH cohort. Conclusion: Investigating and identifying patients' demographic and lifestyle characteristics is the first step in planning efficient and effective management strategies for chronic diseases, such as FH. Establishing a patient registry for chronic diseases enhances understanding of the target population and enables healthcare providers to design and implement appropriate preventive and control strategies.