Computer alert to help identify and manage familial high cholesterol
Alert-Based Computerized Decision Support for Identification and Management of Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH-ALERT Trial)
This project will test whether a computer alert in the electronic health record helps clinicians recognize and treat adults with familial hypercholesterolemia.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 450 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Brigham and Women's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT06743659 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
FH-ALERT is a single-center, time-series trial using an EPIC Best Practice Advisory (BPA) that runs silently for 6 months and then switches to on-screen alerts for 18 months to notify clinicians about outpatients with presentations consistent with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The intervention is a patient- and provider-facing computerized decision support alert intended to increase FH diagnosis, lower LDL-C, and promote guideline-based therapy. Consecutive adult outpatients seen in Brigham and Women's Hospital endocrinology, cardiovascular medicine, and primary care clinics who meet a Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score threshold will be identified by the tool. Patients with a prior documented FH diagnosis in the electronic health record are excluded.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18) seen in Brigham and Women's outpatient endocrinology, cardiology, or primary care clinics who meet a Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score of at least 3 and do not already have FH documented are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who already have an FH diagnosis, who do not receive care at the participating Brigham and Women's outpatient clinics, or who do not meet the scoring criteria are unlikely to benefit from the alert.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the alert could help clinicians find more people with FH earlier and prompt treatment that lowers LDL cholesterol and reduces long-term cardiovascular risk.
How similar studies have performed: Electronic alerts and decision-support tools have shown mixed but sometimes modest success improving recognition and guideline-based care for cardiovascular risk conditions, while EHR-based approaches specifically for FH remain relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 18 years old * seen in the BWH Endocrinology, Cardiovascular Medicine, and Primary Care Clinics * Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score of at least 3 points Exclusion Criteria: * a Familial Hypercholesterolemia diagnosis already documented in the EHR medical history, visit history, or problem list
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Gregory Piazza, MD, MS
- Email: gpiazza@partners.org
- Phone: 6177326984
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.