James Stein, MD, professor, Cardiovascular Medicine, has provided comment on a study published by researchers in Kansas. 

The analysis sought to clarify conflicting US guidelines about the age at which patients should begin lipid panel screening (age 20 with repeat tests every four to six years, versus age 35 for men and age 45 for women with no other risk factors). 

The Kansas study analyzed data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants, and concluded that screening should begin in middle age. 

Dr. Stein disagreed, advocating for shared-decision making and pointing out that the study assumed statin therapy would be the only response to finding abnormal lipids. 

“For the young adults they looked at, many, if not most, would be counseled about lifestyle interventions. The magnitude of lipid and other metabolic improvements lifestyle changes can achieve, over the course of decades, would be expected to be highly effective at reducing long term ASCVD [atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease] risk,” he said.

Resources:

• "Study Fuels Debate Over When to Start Cholesterol Screening," CardioBrief, May 15, 2017