Electronic Health Messages Accelerate Diagnosis, Treatment for High Cholesterol
new research indicates electronic health messaging significantly boosts teh identification and management of patients with dangerously high cholesterol levels, perhaps preventing heart attacks and strokes. A study published November 2, 2025, in the journal of Clinical Lipidology found that utilizing electronic health messaging tools improved both the diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia and the initiation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering therapy in individuals with LDL-C levels of 190 mg/dL or higher.
High cholesterol affects millions of Americans, frequently enough going undiagnosed or undertreated, leading to increased cardiovascular risk. The findings suggest a simple yet powerful intervention – leveraging existing electronic health record (EHR) systems - can bridge this gap in care. Researchers propose pharmacies could implement EHR-level notifications to prompt timely initiation of necessary LDL-C lowering treatments. This is notably crucial given that, according to a 2023 JAMA Cardiology study, awareness and treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol remain suboptimal despite decades of public health efforts.
The study, led by Fan et al., examined the impact of electronic health messaging on clinical practice. Results demonstrated improved identification of familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition causing severely elevated LDL-C, and faster initiation of appropriate therapy. This builds on previous work, such as a 2021 Journal of Clinical Lipidology report by Birnbaum and colleagues, wich highlighted the challenges of identifying and managing familial hypercholesterolemia within integrated healthcare systems.
Current estimates, detailed in the 2023 JAMA Cardiology analysis by Sayed et al., reveal a significant portion of US adults with elevated LDL cholesterol remain unaware of their condition and are not receiving treatment. Hill and Bordoni’s 2025 StatPearls overview of hyperlipidemia underscores the continued importance of proactive management to mitigate cardiovascular disease risk. The implementation of automated EHR notifications, as suggested by the recent research, offers a scalable solution to address this critical public health need.
REFERENCES
- Fan Y, Li L, Fan W, et al. The impact of electronic health messaging on diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia and management of patients with LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL. J Clin Lipid.Published online November 2, 2025. Accessed December 3,2025. doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2025.10.074
- Hill MF, Bordoni B. Hyperlipidemia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Updated August 8, 2023. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559182/
- Birnbaum RA, Horton BH, Gidding SS, et al. Closing the gap: Identification and management of familial hypercholesterolemia in an integrated health care delivery system. J Clin Lipid. 2021;15(2):347-357. doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2021.01.008
- Sayed A, Navar AM, Slipczuk L et a. Prevalence, awareness, and treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol in US adults, 1999-2020. JAMA Cardiol. 2023;8(12):1185-1187. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2023.3931
