PATIENTS are “needlessly dying” from an inherited heart condition because tests are not widely available, a charity has warned.

Approximately one in 250 Scots has familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), which causes abnormally high levels of cholesterol.

Without treatment, people with FH can die prematurely of a heart attack their 20s, 30s or 40s.

Early treatment with statins can bring someone’s life expectancy back to that of someone without the condition.

However, the British Heart Foundation say the majority of people aren’t diagnosed and treated for the condition because access to the genetic test across the UK is “patchy.”

Figures suggest that FH affects more than 21,000 people in Scotland and is more common than type one diabetes in children, which affects around one in 500 children.

Testing is now routinely available in Wales as a result of an initial pilot project funded by the BHF.

The charity is hoping that the Scottish Government will now follow suit.

James Cant, BHF Scotland Director, said: “The generous donations of our supporters have funded the science behind breakthroughs for this condition and now we know the genes responsible.

“However, the majority of people remain undiagnosed and despite cascade testing proving to be a highly cost effective and efficient way of saving lives, services are patchy.

“We’ve made significant investment in recent years, investing in two FH programmes in the Western Isles and Grampian, and developing a partnership with NHS Boards across the north of Scotland to share the evidence and help them to build the case for continued investment in FH cascade testing as a mainstream service.

“We anticipate that Scotland will follow Wales’ lead in developing nationwide coverage of this highly cost effective detection process that can save money and lives through simple tests and treatments.

“If we are to avoid sudden and unexpected deaths from FH, we need to ensure that everyone at risk has access to these tests.”