The benefit of ongoing treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolemia is to prevent cardiovascular disease in mid-adulthood. As young adults with Familial Hypercholesterolemia move away from a Pediatric setting their level of support changes and these changes may disrupt lifestyle interventions and adherence to medications. There are a number of factors that make the transition easier for young adults. One of these factors can be addressed by a formal transition clinic.
The Pediatric Lipid clinic at McMaster Children’s Hospital has recently introduced a transition Lipid Clinic for patients 17 – 20 years of age.
It is critical to start the transition process early in the clinic to encompass the different stages of development from child to adulthood. At the Pediatric Lipid Clinic self-management skills for a heart healthy lifestyle is introduced early in life to increase the likelihood of health behaviours and, for some, cholesterol lowering medication continuing into adolescence and young adulthood.
For many years, the clinic has already incorporated some of the concepts of the shared management model described by the Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children Good 2 Go Transition Program. Education and care has gradually shifted from combined clinic visits with parent and youth to visits only with the youth. In addition, the clinic utilizes tools such as clinical adolescent assessment forms, Readiness checklist, group education, Good 2 Go MyHealth Passport modified for dyslipidemia and graduation certificates. The clinic will be evaluated to determine if this approach improves the effectiveness of transition and improves medical follow-up in adulthood.