Cholesterol Evaluation in Young Adults: Absence of Clinical Trial Evidence Is Not a Reason to Delay Screening

In this issue, Patel and colleagues estimate the prevalence of elevated atherosclerotic risk among nondiabetic adults younger than 50 years, with the stated aim of identifying subgroups for whom cholesterol screening would not provide actionable information. The authors thus suggest that their findings support delayed screening until age 40 years for men and 50 years for women. The editorialists discuss the limitations of the study and why they think the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease should include early-life evaluation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, not a delayed approach.

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