Understanding Task Force
Draft Recommendations
This fact sheet explains the Task Force’s draft recommendation statement on using screening for lipid disorders in children and
adolescents. It also tells you how you can send comments about the draft recommendation to the Task Force. Comments may be
submitted from December 22, 2015, to January 25, 2016. The Task Force welcomes your comments.
Screening for Lipid Disorders in Children and Adolescents
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force)
has issued a draft recommendation statement on
Screening for Lipid Disorders in Children and
Adolescents.
This draft recommendation statement applies to
individuals younger than age 20 who have not already
been diagnosed with high cholesterol.
What are lipid
disorders?
The draft recommendation statement summarizes what
the Task Force learned about the potential benefits and
harms of screening children and teens for high
cholesterol: There is not enough evidence to determine
whether screening in this age group is beneficial.
Lipid disorders refer to abnormal levels of fats in the blood, such as cholesterol and
triglycerides. They can be caused by genetic factors or a combination of factors, including
lifestyle. This Recommendation Statement focuses on screening for high cholesterol.
Facts about High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
Children and adolescents with high cholesterol are more likely to become adults with high cholesterol levels. High
cholesterol in adulthood can lead to serious health outcomes such as heart attacks and strokes.
High cholesterol in children and teens can be caused primarily by genetic factors or by a combination of genetic and environmental
factors:
• Familial hypercholesterolemia is high cholesterol that is caused primarily by genetic factors. It can result in early signs of
cardiovascular disease (CVD) and with increased rates of CVD in adults. In some cases, this type of high cholesterol can lead to
an early heart attack or stroke.
• Multifactorial dyslipidemia is high cholesterol that is primarily due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors,
including a high-fat diet. This type of high cholesterol is a risk factor for future CVD. Children and adolescents with this condition
may continue to have high cholesterol as adults but many cases resolve by adulthood.
Screening for High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
Screening is done by a blood test to look for cholesterol levels. To help the test be as accurate as possible, the person may be asked
to not eat for 8 hours before the test.
Comment Period from December 22 to January 25, 2015.
Task Force DRAFT Recommendation | 1
Screening for Lipid Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Potential Benefits and Harms
The Task Force reviewed studies on the potential benefits and harms of screening for familial hypercholesterolemia and multifactorial
dyslipidemia in children and teens. They found that there is not enough evidence to determine whether or not screening for either
condition is beneficial. The evidence that is available shows that it is difficult to predict which children and adolescents with high
cholesterol will have it as adults. It also is not clear that identifying and treating high cholesterol in children or adolescents leads to
long-term improved heart health in adulthood.
The Task Force also found a lack of evidence on the long-term harms of cholesterol medication use in children and adolescents.
The Task Force recognizes the importance of heart health for children and teens and encourages new research on screening and
treatment of high cholesterol in young people. It also encourages studies on the impact of cholesterol-lowering treatments during
childhood and adolescence on the future heart health of adults.
The Draft Recommendation on Screening for High Cholesterol in Children and Adolescents:
What Does It Mean?
Here are the Task Force’s draft recommendations on screening children and teens for high cholesterol. Recommendations have letter
grades. The grades are based on the quality and strength of the evidence about the potential benefits and harms of interventions for
this purpose. Task Force recommendation grades are explained in the box at the end of this fact sheet.
When there is not enough evidence to judge benefits and harms, the Task Force does not make a recommendation for or against—it
issues an I Statement. The Notes explain key ideas.
Before you send comments to the Task Force, you may want to read the full draft recommendation statement. The recommendation
statement explains the evidence the Task Force reviewed and how it decided on the grade. An evidence document provides more
detail about the studies the Task Force reviewed.
Notes
1
The Task Force concludes that current evidence is
insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of
screening for lipid disorders in children and adolescents.
I Statement
1 current evidence is
insufficient
The Task Force did not find
enough evidence to determine
whether cholesterol screening in
this age group is beneficial.
screening for lipid
disorders
Using a blood test to determine
whether a child or adolescent has
high cholesterol.
Comment Period from December 22 to January 25, 2015.
Task Force DRAFT Recommendation | 2
Screening for Lipid Disorders in Children and Adolescents
What is the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force?
The Task Force is an independent, volunteer group of national experts in prevention and
evidence-based medicine. The Task Force works to improve the health of all Americans
by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services, such as
screenings, counseling services, and preventive medicines. The recommendations apply
to people with no signs or symptoms of the disease being discussed.
To develop a recommendation statement, Task Force members consider the best
available science and research on a topic. For each topic, the Task Force posts draft
documents for public comment, including a draft recommendation statement. All
comments are reviewed and considered in developing the final recommendation
statement. To learn more, visit the Task Force Web site.
Click Here to Learn More
About High Blood
Cholesterol
High Blood Cholesterol
(National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute)
Familial
Hypercholesterolemia
(MedlinePlus)
Task Force Recommendation Grades
Grade
Definition
A
Recommended.
B
Recommended.
C
Recommendation depends on the patient’s situation.
D
Not recommended.
I statement
There is not enough evidence to make a recommendation.
Click Here to Comment on the Draft Recommendation
December 22 January 25, 2015
The Task Force welcomes comments
on this draft recommendation.
Comments must be received between
December 22 and January 25, 2015.
Comment Period from December 22 to January 25, 2015.
All comments will be considered for
use in writing final recommendations.
Task Force DRAFT Recommendation | 3