Paediatricians call for universal lipid screening in children to catch heart risks early

OTTAWA— The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) is recommending universal lipid (cholesterol) screening for all children between the ages of two and 10 years to protect against future cardiovascular disease.

“Heart disease isn't just an adult issue; its foundations are laid in childhood,” said Dr. Michael Khoury, a paediatric cardiologist and Associate Professor at the University of Alberta and lead author of a new position statement published today. “High cholesterol levels in children are clinically silent but easy to diagnose with simple blood tests. You can’t treat what you don’t find. Treating elevated cholesterol levels from childhood, when appropriate, can dramatically improve (and even normalize) heart disease and stroke risk in adulthood.”

Paediatric lipid disorders are increasingly prevalent among young people in Canada. One in 300 Canadians has familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic condition that contributes to lifelong severe cholesterol elevations from childhood. In Quebec, the rate can be as high as one in 90. FH is easy to diagnose and easy to treat, and doing so from childhood can normalize the risk of early heart attacks and strokes in adulthood. Unfortunately, over 90% of FH cases in Canada remain undiagnosed, especially in childhood. Therefore, systematic provincial and national childhood cholesterol screening strategies are needed to improve the detection and treatment of children with FH.

“Heart disease is a leading cause of death in Canadians. Improving our detection of high cholesterol in Canadian children represents a low-hanging fruit towards the improvement of lifelong disease in this high-risk population. Finding affected children also allows us to screen parents and other first-degree family members, potentially reducing heart disease risk for the whole family.” said Dr. Khoury.

When children are identified with FH, management and treatment can include:

• Prioritizing dietary and lifestyle changes;
• Pharmacological (drug) therapy;
• Working with a paediatric lipid specialist.

With universal screening, healthcare providers can identify at-risk youth early and provide families with the tools and support needed to prevent cardiovascular disease before it begins.

—30—