Private MD News

Some remain unconvinced of cholesterol testing's benefit to children

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recently issued a recommendation suggesting that all children be given cholesterol testing by age 11. The proposal was signed on to by the American Academy for Pediatrics, as well. But not everyone is convinced of the benefits of this approach.

Experts told Slate Magazine that the recommendation is the product of an attitude that suggests it is better to know about potential cholesterol problems in childhood than not to know. Evidence suggests that unhealthy cholesterol tests in childhood generally translate into heart health problems in adulthood.

But the news source reports that there is relatively little evidence to suggest that treating high cholesterol in childhood necessarily carry forward to improved heart health in adulthood. Furthermore, more extensive cholesterol testing could burden the healthcare system with extra expense.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 20 percent of children between the ages of 12 and 19 have unhealthy cholesterol, and recommends testing if a young person has a family history of high cholesterol or has another health condition that may contribute to the problem.