Lipid screening in family practice: a critical appraisal of recent evidence.

Applying principles of critical appraisal to evidence for lipid screening in family practice, one concludes that elevations of triglyceride are not a defined risk for coronary heart disease at present and screening cannot be justified. In contrast, there is now good evidence that elevated cholesterol is not only a primary risk factor for, but also a cause of coronary heart disease. There has been no randomized trial of cholesterol screening to date, leaving the physician in the position of knowing something should be done about the problem, but the best methods are yet to be clarified.