Understanding Implementation Challenges to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United States

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States (US), with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) being a major inherited and genetic risk factor for premature CVD and atherosclerosis. Genetic testing has helped patients and providers confirm the presence of known pathoge...

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Main Authors: Rachele M. Hendricks-Sturrup, Christine Y. Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-02-01
Series:Journal of Personalized Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/9/1/9
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author Rachele M. Hendricks-Sturrup
Christine Y. Lu
author_facet Rachele M. Hendricks-Sturrup
Christine Y. Lu
author_sort Rachele M. Hendricks-Sturrup
collection DOAJ
description Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States (US), with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) being a major inherited and genetic risk factor for premature CVD and atherosclerosis. Genetic testing has helped patients and providers confirm the presence of known pathogenic and likely pathogenic variations in FH-associated genes. Key organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Heart Association (AHA), FH Foundation, and National Lipid Association (NLA), have recognized the clinical utility of FH genetic testing. However, FH genetic testing is underutilized in clinical practice in the US for reasons that are underexplored through the lens of implementation science. In this commentary, we discuss seven key implementation challenges that must be overcome to strengthen the clinical adoption of FH genetic testing in the US. These implementation challenges center on evidence of cost-effectiveness, navigating patient and provider preferences and concerns, gender and ethnic diversity and representation in genetic testing, and establishing clinical consensus around FH genetic testing based on the latest and most relevant research findings. Overcoming these implementation challenges is imperative to the mission of reducing CVD risk in the US.
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spelling doaj.art-103942aedfee492280efc041a131c32f2023-08-02T05:36:07ZengMDPI AGJournal of Personalized Medicine2075-44262019-02-0191910.3390/jpm9010009jpm9010009Understanding Implementation Challenges to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United StatesRachele M. Hendricks-Sturrup0Christine Y. Lu1Precision Medicine Translational Research (PROMoTeR) Center, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive Suite 401, Boston, MA 02215, USAPrecision Medicine Translational Research (PROMoTeR) Center, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive Suite 401, Boston, MA 02215, USACardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States (US), with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) being a major inherited and genetic risk factor for premature CVD and atherosclerosis. Genetic testing has helped patients and providers confirm the presence of known pathogenic and likely pathogenic variations in FH-associated genes. Key organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Heart Association (AHA), FH Foundation, and National Lipid Association (NLA), have recognized the clinical utility of FH genetic testing. However, FH genetic testing is underutilized in clinical practice in the US for reasons that are underexplored through the lens of implementation science. In this commentary, we discuss seven key implementation challenges that must be overcome to strengthen the clinical adoption of FH genetic testing in the US. These implementation challenges center on evidence of cost-effectiveness, navigating patient and provider preferences and concerns, gender and ethnic diversity and representation in genetic testing, and establishing clinical consensus around FH genetic testing based on the latest and most relevant research findings. Overcoming these implementation challenges is imperative to the mission of reducing CVD risk in the US.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/9/1/9implementation sciencegenetic testingfamilial hypercholesterolemiagenomicsvariants of unknown significance
spellingShingle Rachele M. Hendricks-Sturrup
Christine Y. Lu
Understanding Implementation Challenges to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United States
Journal of Personalized Medicine
implementation science
genetic testing
familial hypercholesterolemia
genomics
variants of unknown significance
title Understanding Implementation Challenges to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United States
title_full Understanding Implementation Challenges to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United States
title_fullStr Understanding Implementation Challenges to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United States
title_full_unstemmed Understanding Implementation Challenges to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United States
title_short Understanding Implementation Challenges to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United States
title_sort understanding implementation challenges to genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia in the united states
topic implementation science
genetic testing
familial hypercholesterolemia
genomics
variants of unknown significance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/9/1/9
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