Pediatric dyslipidemia screening by pediatricians and family medicine physicians: Current practices and future directions.

BACKGROUND: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive dyslipidemia screening between 9-11 and again between 17-21 years old. The American Academy of Family Physicians follows the United States Preventive Services Task Force, which states that there is insufficient evidence for or against routine pediatric lipid screening. A 2017 survey of pediatricians reported that many pediatricians’ screening practices do not align with AAP guidelines. This study strives to evaluate physicians’ self-reported screening practices, physicians’ rationale behind their individual screening practices, and the attitudes of both pediatricians and family medicine physicians towards earlier screening in the state of Wisconsin. METHODS: A 27-question survey was created using Qualtrics software and was distributed via email to all active members of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians. RESULTS: 5.2% of total recipients responded. Pediatric physicians had a higher response rate than family medicine physicians (9.7% versus 3.0%). Respondents’ average number of years in practice was 15 (0-39). 65% of respondents were female, and 35% were male. Table 1 describes overall screening practices of respondents and Table 2 describes respondents’ opinions on screening at a younger age based on their current screening practices. CONCLUSIONS: Most Wisconsin physicians who care for children report offering cholesterol screening in some form, either universally or selectively. Screening practices within specialties appeared to follow organizational guidelines, with pediatricians being more likely to offer universal screening and family medicine physicians being more likely to offer selective screening. Regardless of specialty, the majority of respondents thought it was reasonable to screen for genetic dyslipidemias in either the newborn period or at around one year of age. Interestingly, many physicians who do not provide universal lipid screening felt that universal screening at birth or in infancy would be reasonable.