Pediatric cholesterol testing

This article discusses a recent study in which current total cholesterol values of 295 adults were compared to baseline (childhood) values obtained 16 years earlier when subjects participated in a school health screening and intervention program. Results demonstrated that adult total cholesterol values were significantly related to childhood values. Findings do not support limiting pediatric cholesterol testing to children with positive familial histories of either hyperlipidemia or early manifestations of coronary artery disease. Current recommendations regarding pediatric cholesterol testing may soon require reevaluation.