Groups Suggest Statins for Children

(July 11, 2008) - Children as young as 8 years old should be considered for cholesterol lowering drugs, (Read about "Cholesterol") according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The group, which represents children's doctors, says lifestyle changes such as weight reduction, diet and exercise should be considered first. (Read about "Losing Weight" "Fitness for Kids")

The new policy statement, "Lipid Screening and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood," recommends cholesterol screening of children and adolescents with a family history (Read about "Family Health History") of high cholesterol or heart disease. (Read about "Coronary Heart Disease") It also recommends screening patients whose family history is unknown or those who have other factors for heart disease including obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes. (Read about "Obesity" "Hypertension: High Blood Pressure" "Diabetes")

The American Heart Association (AHA) says it welcomes the action by AAP, claiming it mirrors its own recommendations from last year.

"We have definitive evidence that the process of atherosclerosis - plaque building up in arteries - begins in childhood, and we know that the rate of progression is significantly increased by high cholesterol and other lipid abnormalities," Dr. Timothy Gardner, president of the American Heart Association, said. (Read about "Arteriosclerosis & Atherosclerosis") "The earlier we can identify these abnormalities and begin treating them appropriately, the better chance we have of reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other blood vessel problems in these individuals as they grow into adulthood." (Read about "Heart Attack" "Stroke" "The Heart & Cardiovascular System")

The recommendations say:

• Screening should take place after age two, but no later than age 10.
• The best method for testing is a fasting lipid profile.
• If a child has values within the normal range, testing should be repeated in three to five years.
• For children who are more than eight years old and who have high LDL concentrations, cholesterol-reducing medications should be considered.

Younger patients with elevated cholesterol readings should focus on weight reduction and increased activity while receiving nutritional counseling. The statement also recommends the use of reduced-fat dairy products, such as two percent milk, for children as young as one year of age for whom overweight or obesity is a concern.