Overview of Dyslipidemia in Childhood and Adolescence: Why Does It Matter and What Do We Do About It?

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in adults in the United States. Cardiovascular health as a child and adolescent is important in setting the path for a heart-healthy life in adulthood. One major impact on cardiovascular health that can have its roots in childhood is dyslipidemia. Universal screening for all children is a newer concept that has emerged over the last decade; previously children and adolescents were screened based only on risk factors. This review addresses who is at risk for dyslipidemia, how and when to screen children and adolescents, why early identification is important, and how to manage dyslipidemia when it is diagnosed. There are many interventions that can be started in childhood to help decrease cardiovascular risk factors in adults, thus decreasing the morbidity and mortality from heart disease in the future. [Pediatr Ann. 2021;50(1):e4-e9.].