(L-R) Dr Marianne Becker, Luxembourg Hospital Centre (CHL); Martine Deprez, Minister of Health and Social Security; Sandra-Lucile Lieser, Health Directorate;
Credit: M3S
On Monday 20 October 2025, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health and Social Security announced that from Monday 17 November 2025, the Directorate of Health will offer families a free screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) for all children aged 18 months.
The ministry said that by adopting this new early screening, promoted by the European Commission following the Prague Declaration of 6 September 2022, Luxembourg aligns itself with a European approach to prevention from the earliest age.
People with FH have elevated cholesterol levels in their blood from birth. Some severe forms can lead, without noticeable symptoms, to the development of cardio-neurovascular diseases and premature death in adulthood (between 20 and 40 years of age). Unfortunately, only 10% of affected individuals are currently diagnosed. However, if detected early, FH can be treated, significantly reducing the associated risks.
The condition is hereditary, meaning that when a child is affected, at least one of the parents is also affected. A lipid profile can therefore be offered to the parents and siblings of the diagnosed child, along with appropriate care, before any cardio-neurovascular event occurs.
According to the ministry, screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia will be offered to all children aged 18 months. Families residing in Luxembourg will receive a personalised letter inviting them to book an appointment at one of the medical centres. Families living outside Luxembourg may also participate in the screening but must submit a request via MyGuichet.
Appointments must be made within four months via MyGuichet, giving parents the opportunity to discuss results (before and/or after the screening) with their child’s paediatrician during the sixth recommended medical check-up, scheduled between 21 and 24 months.
From Monday 17 November 2025, screening will be available in the Centre and South of the country, at the Val Fleuri and Esch-Belval medical centres. During 2026, screening will also be available in the North at the Ettelbruck medical centre.
Children will be screened using a capillary test – by taking a drop of blood from the fingertip – which is minimally painful. At the end of the screening, families will receive the test results within a few minutes, along with tailored recommendations.
