Should Children, Parents, and Pediatricians Worry About Cholesterol?

Abstract

In this issue Arneson et al1 present the results of a survey of Minneapolis pediatricians' attitudes about the significance of cholesterol levels in childhood and the need to measure cholesterol levels in children. Many expressed some skepticism about the predictive value of cholesterol levels for adult cardiovascular disease but despite this, most carried out screening of cholesterol levels in their patients. Most carried out selective screening of cholesterol levels in children with a strong family history of coronary heart disease. About a third of the pediatricians surveyed indicated that they carried out screening of cholesterol levels in all children. There was diversity of view about what levels of cholesterol should be considered as elevated.