US Preventative Services Task Force Calls for Lipid Screening for All Adults

(April 17, 2001):  In its first set of recommendations, the third US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended that regular screening for high blood cholesterol and other lipid abnormalities that can lead to coronary heart disease should not have an upper age limit, which the panel had previously set at age 65. The USPSTF also issued a new recommendation calling for screening younger adults for lipid abnormalities beginning at age 20 if they have risk factors for coronary heart disease such as diabetes, family history of heart disease, tobacco use, or high blood pressure. In addition, the panel revised its 1996 statement to recommend that, for initial screening purposes, clinicians measure high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol along with total cholesterol.

For more information on cholesterol screening, click here. To read more about the USPSTF recommendations, go to www.ahrq.gov/clinic/prevenix.htm.

Created: 4/19/2001  -  Donnica Moore, M.D.