Background. Evaluation of the effect of intervention on changes in the lifestyle of patients with combined familial hyperlipidaemia (CFH). Methods and Results. The group comprised 154 patients with CFH where changes in the lipid profile, diet, basic anthropometric data and smoking were recorded 3 - 6 months following intervention. In addition to little willingness to have a check-up examination the authors recorded significant shortcomings in the lifestyle of these patients with a high cardiovascular risk: a large number of smokers (51 %), serious shortcomings in the composition of the diet (excessive intake of animal fats a proteins, inadequate intake of vegetable proteins, dietary fibre and vitamins, in particular E and C), overweight and a high percentage of body fat. Conclusions. While the attention devote to pharmacotherapy with hypolipidaemic agents is justified we should not forget systematic intervention as regards changes in lifestyle. This appeal is even more urgent in conjunction with the low motivation and willingness of patients to change their lifestyle. Special attention should be focused on smokers (in addition to effect on lipids also greater cumulation of risk factors).

        Key words: combined familial hyperlipidaemia, smoking, diet, lifestyle.