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Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. Risk identification and management are a crucial part of living a heart healthy lifestyle. The Ohio State University Medical Center High Risk Family Heart Clinic is a specialized resource for patients who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease at a young age or have a strong family history of cardiovascular disease.

At the High Risk Family Heart Clinic, a team, including a cardiologist, genetic counselor, nurses and nurse practitioners, performs an extensive evaluation to create a personalized prevention and/or treatment plan for cardiovascular health.

An appointment with Ohio State’s High Risk Family Heart Clinic begins with a consultation with a genetic counselor who takes an extensive family history and performs a genetic risk assessment. Then patients meet with a cardiologist who completes a targeted cardiovascular medical history and physical exam. Lab testing for risk factors and cardiovascular imaging studies may also be ordered. Based on this information, the clinical team then creates a personalized prevention and/or treatment plan for cardiovascular health.

The High Risk Family Heart Clinic serves various types of patients, including patients with:

• Any form of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) at a relatively young age (under age 55 in men, under age 65 in women). Patients with atherosclerosis may have had a:
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Blockage in an artery outside of the heart, such as in the leg (peripheral arterial disease)

• A family history of early-onset atherosclerosis in one or more close relatives, including parents, siblings, children, aunts, uncles or grandparents
   

• A family history of two or more close relatives on the same side of the family with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure at any age
   
• Both parents diagnosed with atherosclerosis
• A family history of sudden death due to heart attack or stroke in a close relative
   
• Abnormal laboratory test results of novel (recently discovered) risk factors for cardiovascular disease including:
  • Small LDL particle size
  • High lipoprotein (a)
  • High homocysteine
  • High fibrinogen
  • High C-reactive protein (CRP)

To learn more see the High Risk Family Heart Clinic Brochure or call (614) 293-6694 to speak with a genetic counselor. To schedule an appointment call (614) 293-6638 (option #2) or click here to request an appointment online.