The International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) and Oman Society of Lipid & Atherosclerosis (OSLA) are organizing the Fifth IAS-OSLA Course "Lipid Metabolism and Cardiovascular Risk" to be held in Muscat, Oman, on February 8-11, 2019.
As in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the aim of this Course is to increase the knowledge and experience of early- to mid-career, English-speaking practicing clinicians interested in the management of lipid disorders and will be restricted to 30 clinicians practicing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region who manage patients with lipid disorders.

We wish to thank all who submitted an application. We have received tens of them, all of very high standard. The selection has not been easy: at the end of the selection process 34 participants have been chosen, representative of almost all the MENA Region countries, with good male to female ratio and different specialty.
For the Scientific Program
The slide library of the Course is posted on the IAS website at the link: http://www.athero.org/iasosla2019/index.asp

• IAS-FH Foundation Partnership
  Announcing the IAS FH Foundation Partnership
  

• FIND FH through DIGITAL MEDICINE
  For further information:

  • npj Digital Medicine paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-019-0101-5
  • FH Foundation blog https://thefhfoundation.org/findfh-data-published-in-npj
  • Stanford blog: https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2019/04/11/flagging-a-cholesterol-raising-disease-using-ai/

• FH Awareness Media Kit by the FH Foundation
  

• FH Foundation - Consensus Statement on Genetic Testing for FH - 2018

  The FH Foundation announced that an important consensus statement on diagnosing familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a common life-threatening genetic condition, was published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Authored by an international panel of 30 cardiovascular, lipid, genetics and advocacy experts and led by the FH Foundation, the statement recommends that genetic testing be offered to diagnose both individuals with FH and their relatives. FH genetic mutations lead to heart disease and stroke risk during the prime of life. Genetic testing of at-risk individuals holds the promise of accelerating the identification of over 30 million people worldwide born with FH, 90 percent of whom are currently undiagnosed, to ensure early treatment. Read more here.

• IAS/FHFo Joint Session on “Recognize Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Save Lives“ during the WCC 2018 Congress (Dubai, UAE, December 8, 2018)
  View the Slide Library

• IberoAmerican FH Network    -    Mona Lisa Video
  

• IAS proudly announces its partnership with the Fundación Hipercolesterolemia Familiar and with the Iberoamerican FH Network Association.
  

• IAS Consensus Statement “Defining severe familial hypercholesterolaemia and the implications for clinical management: a consensus statement from the International Atherosclerosis Society Severe Familial Hypercholesterolemia Panel” - 2016

  The IAS Severe FH Panel, made of 25 internationally renowned experts and chaired by Dr. Raul Santos, worked with the objective of characterizing the severe FH phenotype and made recommendations on how to stratify CVD risk and to whom to prescribe the novel lipid lowering treatments. These recommendations will contribute to improved daily clinical practice and better management of FH patients.

  To download the full text, which is open access, please link to and register at http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(16)30041-9/fulltext (Published online May 27, 2016). For more information about The Lancet, please visit The Lancet Homepage at www.thelancet.com.

  
  
   

• New Data on Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Brazil - 2017
  

• ScreenPro - Screening Project for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe

  The ScreenPro FH Project started in 2014/2015. Based on the Czech MedPed experience the project was established for screening, diagnosis and treatment of FH patients in the region of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.

  • We started with 8 countries, now we are 20.
  • We started with 70 centers, now we are 181 (other 40 in development).
  • We started with 7500 patients in the local databases, now, they are 23 191.
  • We started cooperation with patient´s organization in 8 countries (2017).
  • We focus on education, screening and care of FH patients. Nowadays we are on the way from description of the situation to improvement in the treatment.

  You can view it here and here
  
   

• News from the Iraqi Lipid Clinics Network

  The success story deriving from the educational activities of the IAS and OSLA in the MENA Region continues. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Mutaz Alkhnifsaw and his Iraqi colleagues at the moment 12 Lipid clinics have been established throughout the country.
  Dr. Mutaz Al-khnifsawi, the President of the Iraqi Lipid Clinics Network was invited by the Federal Ministry of Health in Iraq to attend the first meeting between the Network and the Ministry to support the mission of improving health care for FH patients in Iraq and improve the quality of early diagnosis and treatment of this genetic disorder.
  The Iraqi Lipid Clinics Network announced the launch of the Iraqi national pediatric FH screening program in collaboration with and under the auspices of the International Atherosclerosis Society in two cities in Iraq , Diwaniya and Al-Samawa) for early diagnosis and treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia in Iraq.
  
  We are also pleased to share with our readers the letter we have received from dr Mutaz Al-Khnifsawi, President of the Iraqi Lipid Clinics Network:
  Dear all,
  Good day!
  Under the auspices of the International Atherosclerosis Society , the Iraqi Lipid Clinics Network established the first lipid clinic in the Iraqi capital Baghdad: the lipid clinic will provide health care for Familial Hypercholesterolemia patients (Early diagnosis and proper treatment). Dr. Khalid Al-Jumaily the vice-president of the network will run the Clinic in Ibn- Al-Nafees Cardiac Hospital.
  The project is sponsored by Al-Mamourah scientific bureau in Iraq.
  Best regards
  Mutaz . R. Al-khnifsawi
  
  Dear colleagues
  Good day!
  May I share with you our latest activities in the field of FH detection, awareness and treatment.
  In Erbil , the capital of Kurdistan territory in the north of Iraq (400 km to the northeast of the capital Baghdad, We launched the national pediatric FH screening program in collaboration with the health authority in Erbil (Raparin Pediatric Hospital).
  Erbil is the third city in Iraq we launched the program in. Assistant professor of pediatrics Dr. Lana Mohammed was nominated to be the project manager there. National Pediatric FH Screening Program is one of the projects established by the Iraqi lipid clinics network.
  Best regards
  Mutaz R. Al-khnifsawi
  
  Dear colleagues
  Good day!
  I am very pleased to inform you that after a year of planning and preparations, the Iraqi lipid clinics network in collaboration with the federal ministry of health in Iraq , under sponsorship of Al-Mamorah scientific bureau, on behalf of the international atherosclerosis society established the 12th lipid clinics in the city of Mosul 480 km to the northeast of the capital Baghdad. This activity included a symposium about FH for the medical staff in Ibn Sina teaching hospital in which the clinics will work Mosul is the second big Iraqi city after the Capital Baghdad in which more than 2 million people live. The clinic will provide health care for familial hypercholesterolemia patients there. Thanks to the great support of the IAS.
  Kindest regards
  Mutaz . R. Al-khnifsawi
  General cardiologist
  EAS-FHSC national lead investigator
  President of the Iraqi lipid clinics network
  Member of the European society of cardiology
  Member of the European hypertension society
  Member of the European atherosclerosis society
  Assistant lecturer of cardiology
  Faculty of medicine -Al-Qadisiyah university- Iraq
  Web site : www.dr-mutazclinic.com
  
  - NEW EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE “FH AMBASSADOR MISSION”
  Dr. Mutaz Al-khnifsawi, president of the Iraqi Lipid Clinics Network, participated recently in a workshop held in Cairo, Egypt. The participants were a group of Egyptian university students, newly graduated males and females, as well as some Iraqis living in Egypt.
  The workshop focused on Familial hypercholesterolemia/FH (prevalence, risk, how to diagnose, how to treat, the importance of early detection and cascade screening) is part of the IAS-OSLA campaign, established in Iraq several months ago to raise public awareness about Familial hypercholestrolemia, The presentations by dr Mutaz used a simplified language to better transfer the messages and included short videos and also photos of FH signs. A stimulating and interactive discussion followed the presentations.
  
  Dr. Mutaz Al-khnifsawi, participated recently in the FH Global Summit in Los Angeles, CA, USA and delivered an FH awareness lecture about the prevalence, risk, importance of early diagnosis and cascade screening for some Iraqis and middle east people living in California, USA in their mosque after the night pray time was given.
  

  - OUR CELEBRATION IN FH AWARENESS DAY
  In September 24th 2018, The Iraqi lipid clinics network celebrated the FH awareness day in which a sample from the Iraqi people in Al-Diwaniya city 200 km to the South of the Capital Baghdad include various layers of the community (Solider, Engineer, University Students, Journalists, Doctor and Pharmacist, Nursing Staff, Educational Staff in Schools, University Professors) met together to listen to our talk about FH (Prevalence, risk, signs of the disease, the importance of early diagnosis and cascade screening of the family) in a simplified native language that included photos and short videos illustrating the impact of the problem.
  This event was followed by Radio broadcast in the local radio station of the city that was published on social media which talk to the whole Iraqi people about FH.
  Dr Mutaz Al-khnifsawi, President of the Iraqi Lipid Clinics Network and Dr Mohammed Asamawa, Secretary of the Iraqi Lipid Clinics Network have been very active in rising awareness on familial lipid disorders among the Iraqi medical community and the population.
  
  - NEWS FROM OSLA

  • https://youtu.be/p9bmNQljOVE
  • http://www.athero.org/download/OSLANEWS.mp4
  • https://youtu.be/PiwsMlhrIuY
  • https://twitter.com/omsb_news/status/1044296933949558784?s=21
  • Photos omsb_news

• The SAFEHEART Registry

  Risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are variable among patients with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH). SAFEHEART is a multicentre, nationwide, long-term prospective contemporary cohort study of a molecularly defined FH population with or without previous ASCVD. A robust risk prediction equation (SAFEHEART-RE) has been developed using this unique cohort that shows that the risk of incident ASCVD may be estimated in FH patients using clinical and laboratory parameters including age, gender, history of ASCVD, blood pressure, body mass index, smoking, and plasma LDL-C and lipoprotein (a) levels. The Harrell's C index for this model was 0.85.
  This information will allow more accurate ASCVD risk prediction in FH and will potentially increase the efficiency of care and use of newer lipid lowering therapies. The SAFEHEART-RE is an accurate tool to implement these predictors in daily clinical practice.

  You can view it here

• E-Learning cor2ed

  Improving management through genetic testing for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH)

  This e-learning has been developed for healthcare professionals with an interest in FH and genetic testing by a panel of world renowned experts in this area, Pr. Carrie and Pr. Bruckert from France, and Dr. Ballantyne and Dr. Eng in the USA and is approved by the International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS).
  On completion of this e-learning you will have a better understanding of:

  • Key aspects of genetic testing in Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH)
  • How and why to use genetic testing
  • How to interpret results
  • How to use cascade screening to identify related individuals at risk

  You can view the e-learning at https://checkpoint.cor2ed.com/

• Severe FH Course “Identifying and Treating Severe Familial Hypercholesterolemia” (Dubai, UAE, October 14-15, 2017)

  The International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS), the Oman Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis (OSLA), the Gulf Heart Association (GHA), and the Emirates Cardiac Society (ECS), are happy to make available to our readers some important documents related to the Course on Identifying and Treating Severe Familial Hypercholesterolemia which was held in Dubai, UAE on October 14-15, 2017. The Course was co-chaired by Profs. Raul Santos (President-Elect of IAS), Khalid Al-Rasadi (President, OSLA) and Wael Almahmeed (Board Member of GHA).

  • Scientific Program & Abstracts
  • Slide Library posted at www.athero.org/SevereFHCourse20171014 and at gulfheart.org/past-congresses.php

  We would love to hear from our member societies about other such exciting and important successes in the field throughout the world and look forward to hearing from you.

We are pleased to announce that after the presentation of the outstanding bids for the ISA2024 Symposium from the Russian National Atherosclerosis Society (RNAS), Emirates Cardiac Society (ECS), Lipid Association of India (LAI), and Oman Society of Lipids & Atherosclerosis (OSLA) the IAS Executive Board during its meeting held in Toronto on June 9 has selected the winner of the ISA2024: the Oman Society of Lipids and Atherosclerosis (OSLA).