Heart attack patients screened for hidden genetic cholesterol disorder

This study tested whether offering genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic condition causing very high cholesterol) to people hospitalized for a heart attack could help doctors diagnose the condition more often. Researchers enrolled 140 patients under age 60 who had a heart attack and high cholesterol. They performed genetic tests and shared results with the patients' doctors to see if it led to better cholesterol treatment and lower cholesterol levels over the next 15 months.