US Cardiologists Urge Earlier Cholesterol Treatment, Start Screening at Ages 9-11
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · Aug 15
US Cardiologists Urge Earlier Cholesterol Treatment, Start Screening at Ages 9-11
3 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · Aug 15
Summary
Children aged 9-11 should now get cholesterol screening if not previously tested, while doctors are urged to start lipid-lowering treatment earlier under new U.S. cardiology guidelines.
The overhaul of the 2018 guidance broadens focus from LDL alone to dyslipidemia overall, aiming to cut lifetime exposure to artery-clogging lipoproteins that drive heart attack and stroke.
PREVENT—a new calculator for adults aged 30-79—now guides 10-year and 30-year risk estimates, with therapy considered at 3%-5% risk and recommended more strongly at 5%-10%.
LDL targets were also reset to under 100 mg/dL for borderline or intermediate-risk patients, under 70 mg/dL for high risk, and under 55 mg/dL for very high-risk ASCVD patients.
The broader shift could sharply expand treatment: a recent analysis tied the 2026 guidelines to 21.5 million more U.S. adults qualifying for statins, bringing the total to 87.5 million.