Research has suggested that screening for an inherited genetic defect known as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) during routine immunization visits in early childhood could identify both children and parents at risk of premature coronary heart disease. This would be helpful as many people with this disorder are not diagnosed until they develop cardiovascular disease. The study was conducted in the United Kingdom and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently updated its 2008 guidelines on cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins. The recommendations were released in the November 15th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.