Universal cholesterol screening of children in community-based ambulatory pediatric clinics.
BACKGROUND
Early identification and treatment of individuals with elevated levels of atherogenic cholesterol have been shown to be effective and safe in reducing morbidity and mortality, especially in familial hypercholesterolemia. To better inform providers and identify children and adolescents at risk of premature cardiovascular disease, in November 2011, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) published guidelines recommending cholesterol screening of all children aged between 9 to 11 and 17 to 21 years regardless of the child's general health or the presence or the absence of cardiovascular disease risk factors.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the number of 9- to 11-year-old children screened for hypercholesterolemia in 5 community-based ambulatory pediatric clinics before and after publication of the NHLBI's guidelines.


METHODS
Practice demographics, screening frequency, and test results for each clinic were collected before and after publication of the NHLBI's recommendation. Provider education was provided between measures.


RESULTS
Of all eligible 9- to 11-year-old children, 489 (17.1%) were screened before and 686 (20.1%) after the NHLBI's guidelines and provider education.


CONCLUSIONS
Baseline rates of lipid screening for the 5 community-based ambulatory pediatric clinics were higher than those previously reported and increased significantly after publication of the NHLBI's recommendations and provider education. However, overall screening rates remained low. Given the high prevalence of premature cardiovascular disease associated with atherogenic cholesterol, especially familial hypercholesterolemia, additional strategies are needed to improve screening rates.
Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA. Electronic address: don.wilson@cookchildrens.org.
Don P
DP
Wilson
Department of General Pediatrics, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Sharon
S
Davis
Department of Pediatrics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Sarah
S
Matches
Department of Pediatrics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Deep
D
Shah
Department of Pathology and Laboratory, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Van
V
Leung-Pineda
Department of Pediatrics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Margaret
M
Mou
Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Luke
L
Hamilton
Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA.
Catherine J
CJ
McNeal
Department of Pediatrics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
W Paul
WP
Bowman
D000293:Adolescent; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008403:Mass Screening; D010372:Pediatrics; D012111:Residence Characteristics
D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol
Children; Cholesterol; Familial hypercholesterolemia; Guidelines; Universal screening