ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop guidelines for screening and case-finding of children with raised serum cholesterol levels and to determine realistic cut-points for intervention and management. DESIGN: The percentiles for serum cholesterol selected by authoritative US bodies for intervention were applied to the available Australian data on serum cholesterol levels in children. CONCLUSION: On the basis of this information we recommend a serum cholesterol level of 4.5 mmol/L as the target ceiling for Australian children; 5.5 mmol/L as the cut-point for active dietary intervention; and 6.0 mmol/L as the cut-point for specialist referral. A dual approach to intervention is recommended: population intervention through health promotion; and at a family level case-finding with individual intervention targeted to children with a serum cholesterol level greater than 5.5 mmol/L, with emphasis on dietary change in both cases.
