Is Your Child at Risk of Elevated Cholesterol Related Medical Problems
Five times in since July of 2008 various noted medical or health watch centers have warned that children in the United States need to be screened in their pre-teen years. Now a panel of experts has called for screening blood tests for all children between the ages of 9 and 11. This panel of medical experts was convened by the federal government.
The panel stated concerns the results of screening could be misunderstood or misused. They fear too many young children might be placed on drugs to lower cholesterol. The intent of the guidelines is to give doctors and families an early warning and road map. This would allow lifestyle and dietary habits to be modified to eliminate the need for control of cholesterol in the future with drugs. The panel also stated that latest evidence suggests control of high cholesterol levels throughout childhood will substantially reduce heart disease risk later in life.
Already some medical experts, not on the panel, worry the guidelines are not well enough thought out. There is no data available on what benefits or risks children face if put on cholesterol lowering statins at such a young age. The proper reaction to results showing a predisposition for high cholesterol should be increased and planned exercise, is the response from the government panel. Other expert’s say parents should be advised there are also no prior studies that prove or disprove increased early screening improves medical outcomes for children.
The expected percentage of children that screening would identify as eligible for cholesterol lowering drugs is expected to be less than one percent. The stated reason for pre teen age testing is due to normal reduction of cholesterol in the body during adolescence. That makes identification of children at risk difficult and unreliable once they are older than twelve years old.
Some medical experts state that many parents are not aware of the specific medical history of ancestors past one or two generations. These screening recommendations should pick up genetic predisposition to cholesterol problems at an early age. Other experts feel a more specific test should be given to any child identified as eligible or needing cholesterol lowering drugs. This would reduce the possibility of unnecessary and possibly dangerous early medication regimes.
The panel issued specific guidelines for children with LDL, bad cholesterol, levels above 130 milligrams per deciliter. These are specific for diet and amount of daily exercise. They also advise doctors to ensure these guidelines were applied and checked before allowing medication. Interestingly, the panel stated obesity, while dangerous, is not the primary cause of increased LDL levels in children. That fact is stated as another reason for the recommendation for testing all children.