Cholesterol screening in children during office visits.

Elevated blood cholesterol levels, a major risk for coronary artery disease in adults, has been associated with atherosclerotic disease in children. More than 10% of North American children have blood cholesterol levels higher than the desirable levels for adults. Current guidelines recommend screening only in children who have a family history of hyperlipidemia or myocardial infarction at an early age; however, this method fails to identify most children with hypercholesterolemia. Office-based cholesterol screening is an effective means to identify children and family members for dietary assessment and counseling. Should these measures be insufficient to lower the child's cholesterol level, referral for pharmacologic treatment is indicated.