Routine lipid screening ages for individuals without major risk factors are best described as which of the following?

• A. Men 35; Women 45; you can start earlier if risk factors
• B. Men 20; Women 20
• C. Men 50; Women 60
• D. Men 40; Women 50

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is primary prevention: when to screen for lipid disorders in adults who don’t have major risk factors. For individuals without risk factors, routine lipid screening is started earlier for men than for women—typically at age 35 for men and 45 for women. The reason is that ASCVD risk rises with age, and starting at these ages helps catch hyperlipidemia early enough to intervene with lifestyle changes and, if indicated by overall risk, statin therapy. If risk factors are present—such as a family history of premature ASCVD, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, or known familial hyperlipidemia—screening can occur earlier.

Why the other schedules aren’t preferred: screening everyone starting at 20 would lead to many unnecessary tests in low-risk individuals, while starting at 50/60 or 40/50 would miss earlier cases in men and delay detection in middle-aged adults who could benefit from early management.