What the study found
Only a small proportion of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) had documented lipid screening, but dyslipidemia was common among those who were screened. The authors report that screening was more frequent among children with higher body mass index (BMI) percentiles and among Black patients.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that these findings emphasize the importance of universal screening for dyslipidemia in children with CHD. They note that dyslipidemia is associated with later atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of fatty material in the arteries, and cardiovascular events in adulthood.
What the researchers tested
The researchers reviewed children with CHD aged 9 to 18 years who were followed at their institution from 2012 to 2019. They examined whether a lipid panel was documented and classified children as dyslipidemic based on standard cholesterol and triglyceride cutoffs.
What worked and what didn't
Of 1,579 patients, 11.3% had a documented lipid panel. Among the 179 screened children, 60% met criteria for dyslipidemia. Screened children had a higher median BMI percentile than unscreened children, and children with dyslipidemia had a higher median BMI percentile than those without dyslipidemia.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe why most children were not screened or whether the findings apply beyond this institution. It also does not provide outcome data showing what happened after dyslipidemia was identified.
Key points
- Only 11.3% of 1,579 children with CHD had a documented lipid panel.
- Among screened children, 60% had dyslipidemia.
- Higher BMI percentile was associated with being screened and with having dyslipidemia.
- Black patients made up a larger share of the screened group than the unscreened group.
- Rates of dyslipidemia were similar across races and CHD lesions.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Most children with congenital heart disease were not lipid screened
- Authors:
- Phillip S. Cheng, Jonathan A. Wheeler, Aaron T. Walsh, Chance Alvarado, Kan N. Hor, Andrew Tran
- Institutions:
- Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, The Ohio State University, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- Publication date:
- 2026-07-04
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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