Predictors of screening for hyperlipidemia in an urban pediatric tertiary care center

It is unknown how the conflicting recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Preventive Services Task Force on pediatric hyperlipidemia affect screening.

(a) Identify clinical predictors for screening for hyperlipidemia, (b) assess the adherence to the 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, and (c) determine the efficacy of reminder cards in increasing the adherence to the aforementioned guidelines.

Retrospective chart review in the resident, attending, and adolescent medicine clinics during a 3-month period. Reminder cards on each patient chart outlining guidelines for lipid screening for the same clinics were inserted and prospectively assessed for adherence during the following 3 months.

Older age and higher body mass index increased likelihood (odds ratio = 1.2 and 12.7, respectively) for lipid screening. Reminder cards improved adherence in the resident clinic only (χ2 P = .016).

Age and body mass index were the most significant predictors for lipid screening. Reminder cards modestly improved adherence among resident physicians.