Objective: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited genetic disorder that can lead to an early-onset cardiovascular disease if left untreated. Proper awareness of FH among physicians, particularly those taking care of children can facilitate early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. However, data regarding the knowledge, awareness, and practices of physicians in relation to FH are limited worldwide, so we aimed to explore this aspect.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians who would potentially treat pediatric patients at governmental hospitals and primary health care centers in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 28 questions that assessed the physicians' knowledge, awareness, and practices related to FH was distributed among the participants.
Results: In total, 148 physicians were recruited, including pediatricians, family physicians, and primary care physicians (males vs. females, 52.7% vs. 47.3%; most common age group, 31-40 years [44.6%]), of which 46.6% were familiar with FH. The total mean knowledge score was 5.54 (standard deviation, 3.12) out of 15 points, with 53.4%, 36.5%, and 10.1% of the participants showing inadequate, moderate, and adequate knowledge levels, respectively. The knowledge score was significantly better in the older age group (H=16.155; p=0.01) and among pediatric endocrinologists (H=16.155; p=0.001), while it was significantly lower among resident physicians (H=6.575; p=0.037) and those who had been practicing for 1-5 years (H=5.329; p=0.021).
Conclusions: The current study established significant gaps in the awareness, knowledge, and practices related to FH. Pediatric endocrinologists had the best levels of knowledge of FH. These findings emphasize the need for more extensive educational programs regarding the screening, diagnosis, and management of FH.