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Cholesterol disease affects 1:250 children and is most often caused by a genetic abnormality of proteins responsible for how the body processes cholesterol.  When these genes fail it results in significantly elevated cholesterol levels that cannot be corrected to normal levels through diet alone.

Before 2011, providers typically tested children based on whether they had certain medical conditions or a family history of heart disease.  However, we learned we were missing up to 1/3 of cases of cholesterol and so it was recommended that all children be screened when their cholesterol was at it highest.  This occurs right before puberty and so we test between 9-11 years old.  

We are looking for those cases of genetic cholesterol problems but we do find some children who have more mild abnormalities.  This can let the family know that there is a problem with diet or lifestyle that they may want to work on.

For those children with very high levels of bad cholesterol, they need further evaluation.  We need to rule out possible causes for this and decide if this is genetic or due to another issue.  

Genetic testing can be done by saliva and can help to confirm if there is a abnormality.  We provide this test in office and can even extend the test to other family members.  We are also one of the first sites to offer the new Polygenic risk score which can help us in cases where the genetic issues is caused by multiple small abnormalities rather than one large abnormality.  

Knowing this information is very helpful since genetic problems with cholesterol begin at birth.  Early heart disease and stroke are caused by a lifetime of accumulating the cholesterol in our blood vessels.  Early detection can help to delay major issues later in life.  

If you have a close family member who suffered a heart attack, heart disease, or stroke before 55 years old, or 65 years old if female, then you are higher risk for a cholesterol issue.  

Ask you regular provider if you child’s cholesterol has been checked.  

Here at Tri-City Pediatric Cardiology we are doing our part to keep everyone safe by having all patients and families wear face masks during our visits, just as all our staff do.We are trying to keep the number of patients in clinic limited and avoid them from coming into contact with other families.

We appreciate your help in keeping us all safe and your understanding during this time.