Negative Aspects of the Western Lifestyle and Possible Interventionin Patients with Combined Familial Hyperlipidaemia

Overview

Background.
Evaluation of the effect of intervention on changes in the lifestyle of patients with combined familialhyperlipidaemia (CFH).Methods and Results. The group comprised 154 patients with CFH where changes in the lipid profile, diet, basicanthropometric data and smoking were recorded 3 - 6 months following intervention. In addition to little willingnessto have a check-up examination the authors recorded significant shortcomings in the lifestyle of these patients witha high cardiovascular risk: a large number of smokers (51 %), serious shortcomings in the composition of the diet(excessive intake of animal fats a proteins, inadequate intake of vegetable proteins, dietary fibre and vitamins, inparticular E and C), overweight and a high percentage of body fat.Conclusions. While the attention devote to pharmacotherapy with hypolipidaemic agents is justified we shouldnot forget systematic intervention as regards changes in lifestyle. This appeal is even more urgent in conjunctionwith the low motivation and willingness of patients to change their lifestyle. Special attention should be focused onsmokers (in addition to effect on lipids also greater cumulation of risk factors).

Key words:
combined familial hyperlipidaemia, smoking, diet, lifestyle.