I'm not sure, but an otherwise-healthy person with FH will have a high cholestrol level. However, if someone hasn't got FH and their cholesterol is very high, it is most likely down to a very poor lifestyle, and therefore the likelihood of them becoming ill is far greater.

That's just my own armchair science really, but it seems to make sense to me.

I've got FH, by the way. My level was 13.5 on diagnosis, but it was down to 7.6 after 10 weeks on statins, and now my dose has been doubled and I'm losing lots of weight through healthy eating, so I reckon I'll have it down to a safe level come my next lipid clinic visit in January.