Screening for lipid disorders

SummaryLipid disorders, also known as dyslipidaemias, are abnormalities of lipoprotein metabolism and include elevations of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride, and reductions in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and can be acquired or familial in nature. Dyslipidaemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia. Dyslipidaemia is defined by laboratory testing and using statistically determined criteria. Although the benefits of detecting and treating dyslipidaemia in patients with known CVD is clear, controversy remains regarding screening asymptomatic individuals who are not known to be at increased cardiovascular risk. This review examines the role of screening in the detection and treatment of individuals with lipid disorders.