Study into cholesterol killer

A ground-breaking project by Bunbury researchers is identifying people who are at risk of a heart attack or stroke in their 30s and 40s.

The researchers hope to find those with inherited high cholesterol before the condition, familial hypercholesterolemia, becomes life-threatening.

The Val Lishman Research Foundation, supported by Edith Cowan Bunbury and the Rural Clinical School, has been working on the project for the past two years and hopes to have definitive answers by mid-2013.

Foundation executive director Graham Fisher said the cardiovascular disorder was a silent killer because those who had the condition would not usually feel sick.

‘‘All too often it is discovered only when someone young dies of a heart attack or stroke,’’ Dr Fisher said.

‘‘If there is someone in your family who has died under the age of 55 from a heart attack or stroke, out of the blue, you should be wondering if you have the condition.’’

Though easy to treat once detected, it is estimated 90 per cent of Australian families affected by the condition have not been diagnosed and are at risk of premature death.

Foundation research manager Professor Adrian Egan said the project was comparing four different ways of diagnosing the condition.

‘‘We are looking to find the most effective and best value-for-money way to detect the condition,’’ Professor Egan said.

Even though the research project will not be completed until next year, researchers have already detected patients at risk and referred them to the appropriate specialists.

Dr Fisher said one in 500 people had the condition.

‘‘If anybody is concerned because they have had a family member die under the age of 55 they should go and talk to their GP,’’ Dr Fisher said.

The project has been made possible by the support of theSouth West community who have been involved with this project through their GPs.

It has also been supported by Eaton and Dalyellup medical practices, the Chefs’ Long Table Lunch, Lottery West, Royalties for Regions, Bunbury Pathology, St John of God Hospital’s pathology services and Worsley Alumina.