11 Clinician Management of Childhood Dyslipidemia in the Community Setting

Abstract

Abstract Background Childhood dyslipidemia is a known risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. Although adverse health outcomes of dyslipidemias are rare in childhood, the atherosclerotic process begins in early life. An overlooked lifelong progression of disease may result in myocardial infarction and stroke in later life. There are currently no Canadian paediatric guidelines for lipid screening. Despite dyslipidemia identification, early treatment or management may not be initiated. Primary care providers (PCP) are well positioned to advise and reinforce cardiovascular health behaviours to minimize the risk of CVD and promote lifelong cardiovascular health. Objectives To describe clinician practice patterns associated with childhood dyslipidemia management in the community setting. Design/Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for children 2 to 10 years of age with abnormal lipid profiles. Participants were recruited from a practice-based research network. Non-fasting blood samples were obtained. The primary study outcome was the proportion of physicians engaging in each step of management practice. R version 3.6.2 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) was used for statistical analysis. Results Among 462 children identified with dyslipidemia, all were seen by PCP at their next follow-up visit. PCP rarely informed families about abnormal lipid profiles. PCP frequently counselled on diet and eating habits (n=424, 95.1%), but less often on physical activity (n=154, 34.5%), screen time (n=24, 5.4%), and sleep (n=1, 0.2%). Family history of CVD, diabetes, high cholesterol, or hypertension was infrequently discussed (n=5, 1.1%). PCP repeated fasting lipid profiles uncommonly (n=20, 4.5%). Management plans for abnormal lipid profiles were not documented. Only one participant had a follow-up visit (n=1, 0.2%). Referrals were rarely made to dieticians (n=2, 0.4%) and were not in response to abnormal lipid levels. Conclusion Dyslipidemia in childhood is a risk factor for the development of adult cardiovascular disease. Among children with abnormal lipid profiles, our study showed PCP rarely identified and initiated early management for abnormal lipid levels. Our results may inform the need for paediatric lipid screening and management guidelines to develop best clinical practice.