Do public cholesterol screenings really screen?

Two hospital-sponsored cholesterol-screening programs were evaluated to assess whether they detected individuals with undiagnosed high blood cholesterol. Surveys asking about prior testing, knowledge of cholesterol level, and participant characteristics were examined to test screening utilization. In both screenings 54% of participants reported having prior cholesterol testing, only 56% of whom knew their cholesterol level. Of previously untested participants, 8% had high blood cholesterol levels and 13% had borderline levels. Only 65% of participants with a personal or family history of heart attack were aware of their cholesterol level. To attract individuals without prior testing, screening planners should consider locations (eg, worksites and schools) and methods (eg, weekend screenings) to target underrepresented groups in community-wide cholesterol screenings. We encourage an increased emphasis on individualized exit education for participants, especially those who know their cholesterol level or have multiple risk factors for vascular disease. Physicians planning public screenings can utilize this data to develop parameters for referrals from the screenings.