Our research
Our research focuses on hereditary lipid disorders, where we examine how lifelong exposure to elevated blood lipids influences atherosclerosis progression and the occurrence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease, as well as how preventive treatment modifies this course. The research is primarily epidemiological and is based on our own generated patient cohorts or cohorts derived from various national and international collaborations. We also investigate the health-economic aspects of screening, identification, and preventive treatment of hereditary lipid disorders.
In our research on familial hypercholesterolaemia and elevated lipoprotein(a), we pursue several lines of inquiry. We study differences in disease burden and medical treatment in relation to sex and socioeconomic status, and we investigate the impact of comorbid with diabetes. Another focus is the need for pacemaker and other implantable devices in families with familial hypercholesterolaemia and elevated lipoprotein(a), compared with individuals from the general population.
Identification and diagnosis of individuals with hereditary lipid disorders in the population through screening, either universal or targeted, is a key prerequisite for offering preventive treatment. Within our clinically oriented research, we have conducted both regional and national prospective screening projects focusing on familial hypercholesterolaemia and elevated lipoprotein(a), demonstrating their utility and effectiveness. We are developing machine-learning models trained on large patient cohorts with the aim of optimising screening for these disorders in the general population and facilitating their integration into routine clinical care.