Routine Cholesterol Tests and Subsequent Change in BMI Among Overweight and Obese Children

Screening for Lipid Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

Importance

Lipid screening in childhood and adolescence can lead to early dyslipidemia diagnosis. The long-term benefits of lipid screening and subsequent treatment in this population are uncertain.

Objective

To review benefits and harms of screening and treatment of pediatric dyslipidemia due to familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and multifactorial dyslipidemia.

Data Sources

MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through May 16, 2022; literature surveillance through March 24, 2023.

Study Selection

English-language randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of lipid screening; recent, large US cohort studies reporting diagnostic yield or screen positivity; and RCTs of lipid-lowering interventions.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Single extraction, verified by a second reviewer. Quantitative synthesis using random-effects meta-analysis.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Health outcomes, diagnostic yield, intermediate outcomes, behavioral outcomes, and harms.

Results

Forty-three studies were included (n = 491 516). No RCTs directly addressed screening effectiveness and harms. Three US studies (n = 395 465) reported prevalence of phenotypically defined FH of 0.2% to 0.4% (1:250 to 1:500). Five studies (n = 142 257) reported multifactorial dyslipidemia prevalence; the prevalence of elevated total cholesterol level (≥200 mg/dL) was 7.1% to 9.4% and of any lipid abnormality was 19.2%. Ten RCTs in children and adolescents with FH (n = 1230) demonstrated that statins were associated with an 81- to 82-mg/dL greater mean reduction in levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C compared with placebo at up to 2 years. Nonstatin-drug trials showed statistically significant lowering of lipid levels in FH populations, but few studies were available for any single drug. Observational studies suggest that statin treatment for FH starting in childhood or adolescence reduces long-term cardiovascular disease risk. Two multifactorial dyslipidemia behavioral counseling trials (n = 934) demonstrated 3- to 6-mg/dL greater reductions in total cholesterol levels compared with the control group, but findings did not persist at longest follow-up. Harms reported in the short-term drug trials were similar in the intervention and control groups.

Conclusions and Relevance

No direct evidence on the benefits or harms of pediatric lipid screening was identified. While multifactorial dyslipidemia is common, no evidence was found that treatment is effective for this condition. In contrast, FH is relatively rare; evidence shows that statins reduce lipid levels in children with FH, and observational studies suggest that such treatment has long-term benefit for this condition.

Universal Lipid Screening Among 9- to 11-Year-Old Children: Screening Results and Physician Management

Universal lipid screening (ULS) is recommended for all 9- to 11-year-old children. We investigated ULS outcomes and long-term pediatrician management of children with dyslipidemia using a retrospective chart review of well-child visits between 2014 and 2016. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics, ULS results, and follow-up visits/testing. Pearson χ² test examined differences between those with and without an abnormal screen. A total of 1039 children aged 9 to 11 years were seen for a well-child visit; only 33.3% (343/1039) completed screening. Of children screened, 18.1% (62/343) had abnormal screen results and were more likely to have an elevated body mass index (P < .001), though 30.1% (19/62) had no risk factors. A total of 10.2% (35/343) had dyslipidemia. A total of 77.1% of children with dyslipidemia received nutrition/exercise counseling and 57.1% received dietitian referrals; only 68.6% had a follow-up visit and 31.4% had repeat lipid testing. Pediatricians would benefit from more practical strategies for universal testing such as point-of-care testing and long-term management to ensure ULS is an effective screening tool.

Association between prediabetes diagnosis and body mass index trajectory of overweight and obese adolescents

BACKGROUND

Prediabetes awareness in adults has been associated with improved weight management. Whether youth with prediabetes diagnosis experience similar improvements is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between prediabetes identification and body mass index (BMI) trajectory in overweight and obese adolescents.

SUBJECTS

Youth who were followed longitudinally in a large academic-affiliated primary care network and who were overweight/obese while 10 to 18 years old.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study. Subjects were categorized as "screened" if at least 1 hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) result was available. Time series analysis was used to determine the difference in difference (DID) in BMI Z-score (BMI-Z) slope before and after HbA1c between: (a) screened youth found to have prediabetes-range HbA1c (5.7%-6.4%, 39-46 mmol/mol) versus normal HbA1c and (b) screened versus age-matched unscreened obese youth.

RESULTS

A total of 4184 (55.6% female) screened subjects (median follow-up 9.7 years) were included. In which, 637 (15.2%) had prediabetes-range HbA1c. Prediabetes was associated with a greater decrease in BMI-Z slope than normal HbA1c (DID: -0.023/year [95% CI: -0.042 to -0.004]). When compared to age-matched unscreened subjects (n = 2087), screened subjects (n = 2815) experienced a greater decrease in BMI-Z slope after HbA1c than unscreened subjects at a matched age (DID: -0.031/y [95% CI -0.042 to -0.021]).

CONCLUSIONS

BMI-Z trajectory improved more among youth with prediabetes-range HbA1c but also stabilized in screened youth overall. Prospective studies are needed to identify provider- and patient-level drivers of this observation.