It takes a team to care for people living with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS)
The physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms of FCS dictate a multi-disciplinary approach to healthcare.22
The National Lipid Association recommends a team-based, collaborative approach to managing patients with lipid disorders, such as FCS.36 Team-based healthcare has been defined as:
“…the provision of health services to individuals, families, and/or other communities by at least two health providers who work collaboratively with patients and their caregivers – to the extent preferred by each patient – to accomplish shared goals within and across settings to achieve coordinated, high-quality care.” 36
Collaborative, team-based care for lipid disorders may lead to improved adherence to recommendations, improved outcomes, and improved patient satisfaction since it can better address the range of issues presented by FCS, from dietary adherence to emotional, physical, and cognitive symptoms.36
Symptoms reported by some patients living with FCS are outlined in the table below12,22:
physical symptoms
Acute pancreatitis
Generalized abdominal pain
Bloating
Asthenia
Indigestion
Fatigue
Dyspnea
Failure to thrive
Lipemia retinalis
Nausea and vomiting
Cognitive symptoms
Difficulty concentrating
Impaired judgment
Brain fog
Dementia
Memory impairment
emotional symptoms
Depression
Anxiety
Social withdrawal
Who should be on the team?
A collaborative multidisciplinary team may include (as necessary):