title: Cholesterol screening management of Florida's pediatric population.
abstract: The current cholesterol screening and management of Florida's pediatric population is evaluated utilizing a questionnaire mailed to 1,534 pediatric health care providers. Twenty percent of the physicians responded. Of the respondents, 65% do not routinely screen for the presence of hypercholesterolemia. Only 28% of the respondents obtain serum total cholesterol measurements in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition recommendations. The serum total cholesterol concentration prompting treatment was 240 mg/dL (6.2 mM). Dietary counseling alone, or in combination with exercise, was the initial treatment approach recommended by 98% of the responding physicians. Dietary education for the hypercholesterolemic patient was provided by both dieticians (46%) and physicians (42%). If the initial dietary intervention was unsuccessful, 48% of the physicians would begin medical therapy. The most commonly prescribed medication was a bile acid sequestrant (70%), with the majority (52%) referring their patient to a subspecialist for evaluation and care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Health Sciences Center, Tampa 33612-4799.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: DeClue
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Schocken
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010372:Pediatrics; D010821:Physicians, Family
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D002784:Cholesterol