The International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) and the Family Heart Foundation, a patient-centered nonprofit organization dedicated to research, advocacy, and education of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), are pleased to announce a partnership to improve awareness of FH and elevate FH on the global policy stage. FH is the most common genetic condition leading to very high cholesterol and early heart disease. One in 220 people or 30 million worldwide have FH, but 90% are undiagnosed.

September is known globally as Cholesterol Awareness Month and as part of this movement, the Family Heart Foundation has distinguished September 24 as “FH Awareness Day.” On this day and throughout the month of September, the IAS and Family Heart Foundation will be highlighting “FH Can’t Wait,” a national public awareness and advocacy campaign developed by the Family Heart Foundation, which aims to ensure that anyone with a family history of cardiac events and high cholesterol get screened for FH and start treatment.

“Educating the public about FH awareness is an extremely important initiative for the IAS,” said Raul Santos, President-Elect of the IAS. “We are excited about our partnership with the Family Heart Foundation and how the IAS’ global reach with our members societies can help spread the word about the seriousness of FH and its effects that can begin at birth.”

The two organizations are also working together to advance global public policy. The work has spanned determining the awareness and perceptions of FH within the primary care physician community in North and South America, as well as work to advance global recommendations for the identification, treatment and care of FH.

“FH represents a unique opportunity to address heart disease, the number one cause of morbidity and mortality globally, through early identification and treatment of this high-risk population,” said Katherine Wilemon, founder and chief executive officer of the Family Heart Foundation. “Our partnership with the IAS expands reflects the commitment of both organizations to prevent the pathology of coronary disease in the over 30 million people living with this genetic condition around the world”.

Join the IAS and the Family Heart Foundation in educating the public about FH Awareness Day by utilizing the FH Awareness Day Media Kit. The Foundation will also be hosting a Tweet-a-Thon on September 24 at 9 a.m. PST/11 a.m. CST/12 p.m. EST using the hashtag “KnowFH.” Join in the online discussion.

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The International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) is a federation of 67 member organizations representing 57 countries whose basic missions are to promote the scientific understanding of the etiology, prevention, and treatment of atherosclerosis. The IAS exists to coordinate the exchange of scientific information among the constituent societies, to foster research into the development of atherosclerosis, and to help translate this knowledge into improving the effectiveness of programs designed to prevent and treat this disease.


the Family Heart Foundation is a leading research and advocacy non-profit organization focused on reducing heart disease by driving scientific understanding and evidence-based care of FH. The mission of the Family Heart Foundation is to save lives by contributing to scientific research that leads to greater understanding and improved diagnosis and treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia worldwide. Please visit www.TheFHFoundation.org for more information.

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