FAMILY HISTORY AS A PREDICTOR FOR CHILDHOOD HYPERLIPIDEMIA

The Nutrition Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) re commends screening for hyperlipidemia in children acid adolescents wit h a family history of premature cardiovascular disease or hypercholest erolemia in parents, We are trying to judge the effectiveness of famil y history as a way of limiting this type of screening, A total of 3,75 0 individuals, sampled by conglomerates, were evaluated in a cross-sec tional study carried out in Navarra in the first quarter of 1993. Bioc hemical parameters (cholesterol, LDL/HDL) and 81 items from family rec ords were analyzed. The positive predictive value of the items ranges from 5% to 25%, which means that when it is accompanied by low sensiti vity in the detection of hyperlipidemia, family history is not useful in limiting the screening of the population, In conclusion, we think t hat hyperlipidemia detection in the infant-youth age group should not be limited by family history. Tracking studies of lipid risk and the p ossibility of changing the mentioned risk intervention studies) should indicate whether this practice is appropriate or not.