Gidding - Figure 4 - Lipid measurement Text
This Figure highlights the first and most important recommendation in the new statement from the FNLA: the importance of measuring lipid levels in children. In fact, the recommendation calls for universal screening of children at the ages of 9 to 11 years to detect FH in the general population. There should be further screening at ages about 17 to 21 years, which is consistent with the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Third Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP-III) guideline for cholesterol screening in young adults.
The screening can be done by ordering a routine total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol non-fasting or fasting lipid profile, but this should be done in all children around the age of 10. In addition, however, physicians should consider measuring lipids at any age above 2 years if:
- there is a positive family history of a cardiac event or high cholesterol;
- another cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor such as hypertension is present;
- there is a high-risk CVD condition;
- in the case of childhood obesity.