The case against childhood cholesterol screening
T. B. Newman, W. S. Browner and S. B. Hulley
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Because some authorities have proposed blood cholesterol screening for
children to prevent coronary heart disease, we reviewed published studies
to estimate the potential risks and benefits of such screening. Childhood
cholesterol levels are a poor predictor of high cholesterol levels in young
adulthood and will be an even poorer predictor of coronary heart disease
later in life. There is no evidence that blood cholesterol levels can be
lowered more easily in children than in adults, and it seems unlikely that
cholesterol reduction in childhood will be much more effective at
preventing coronary heart disease than cholesterol reduction begun in
middle age. Screening and interventions to lower blood cholesterol levels
for millions of children would be expensive, could lead to labeling and
family conflicts, and may cause malnutrition and increased
noncardiovascular mortality. Because the benefits of cholesterol screening
are unlikely to exceed these risks, we conclude that children should not be
screened for high blood cholesterol levels.
If It's Not Worth Doing, It's Not Worth Doing Well
Newman
Pediatrics 2005;115:196-196.
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Usefulness of the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations for Identifying Youths With Hypercholesterolemia
O'Loughlin et al.
Pediatrics 2004;113:1723-1727.
ABSTRACT
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Let the consumer decide? The regulation of commercial genetic testing
Levitt
J. Med. Ethics 2001;27:398-403.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Hereditary dyslipidaemias and combined risk factors in children with a family history of premature coronary artery disease
Sveger et al.
Arch. Dis. Child. 2000;82:292-296.
ABSTRACT
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Cholesterol Screening in Children and Adolescents
Newman and MD
Pediatrics 2000;105:637-638.
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Usefulness of Electron Beam Tomography in Adolescents and Young Adults With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Gidding et al.
Circulation 1998;98:2580-2583.
ABSTRACT
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Influence of Cholesterol Screening and Nutritional Counseling in Reducing Cholesterol Levels in Children
Fitch et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 1997;36:267-272.
ABSTRACT
Parent and Physician Response to Children's Cholesterol Values of 200 mg/dL or Greater: The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health Experiment
Nader et al.
Pediatrics 1997;99:e5-e5.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Effects of Serum Lipoproteins and Smoking on Atherosclerosis in Young Men and Women
McGill et al.
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio. 1997;17:95-106.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Growth Patterns of Hyperlipidemic Children Enrolled in a Preventive Cardiovascular Health Clinic
Cetta et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 1994;33:588-592.
ABSTRACT
The Psychological Functioning of Children with Hypercholesterolemia and Their Families: A Preliminary Investigation
Rosenthal et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 1993;32:135-141.
ABSTRACT
Pediatric Preventive Cardiology: Experience in the Tidewater, Virginia Area
Jennings and Leon
CLIN PEDIATR 1992;31:89-93.
ABSTRACT
THE PITFALLS OF MEASURING CHILDHOOD CHOLESTEROL
JWatch General 1991;1991:5-5.
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