The overarching objective of the project was to educate, create awareness and empower both women with and without familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The project aimed at reducing the gender-based gap in FH diagnosis and treatment and promoting gender equality by addressing not only the recipient of care but also the provider, driving change in both a bottom-up (better-informed women) and top-down (better-trained health professionals) approach. To this end, after project implementation, a health education and communication e-toolbox tailored for women (with and without FH experience) in Cyprus and further tested in Greece is made available, that includes relevant health-information as a result of participatory methodology. Additionally, the toolbox includes educational up-to-date and evidenced-based material for health professionals with the double aim of both educating, but also making health providers more aware of the possible unconscious bias in dyslipidemia screening and treatment in women and highlight issues specific to women, further promoting gender equality.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated genetic disorder that leads to high premature morbidity and mortality due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease if left untreated. Although underdiagnosed, it is the most common metabolic genetic disease, affecting 1 in 200 to 250 people around the world of every race and ethnicity. The lack of general awareness of FH among the public and medical community results in only 10% of the FH population being diagnosed and adequately treated, making the need for both public and specialist education imperative in preventing the mortality and disability associated with FH, which can be achieved by early and aggressive cholesterol-lowering medication. More so, such education and awareness efforts should be targeted towards women, which make up half of the FH patients but are less often diagnosed and less aggressively treated compared to men with FH. Evidence highlights the need for early assessment of cardiovascular risk profile in apparently healthy young women to identify those with LDL-C ≥99th percentile for their age, as some will have FH, which needs further attention; while others will need to address lifestyle choices to reduce hypercholesterolemia.