Recent advances in medicine have led to an increase in the number of children and adolescents treated for various chronic diseases and cancer. Increasingly sophisticated genetic analysis techniques have also clarified some genetic factors that contribute to bone fragility. Osteoporosis, characterized by reduced bone mass and skeletal fragility, can result from primary or secondary causes that originate in childhood and adolescence, which are critical periods for bone mineral acquisition. It is essential to identify children and adolescents at risk of fractures due to osteoporosis, and early intervention is crucial. Conservative management strategies, such as treating underlying diseases, replacing deficient hormones, providing nutritional support to meet calcium and vitamin D requirements, and encouraging regular physical activity, should be prioritized. Pharmacological treatment should be initiated in a timely manner following a comprehensive bone health examination. Intravenous pamidronate therapy has been safely and effectively administered to children and adolescents, although long-term follow-up is necessary. Further investigation is needed regarding bone fragility fractures of unknown etiology and the application of new medications for pediatric use.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death worldwide, and dyslipidemia is a major risk factor. Atherosclerosis can begin in childhood and continue into adulthood, thereby contributing to CVD development. Obesity is the most common cause of dyslipidemia, and the prevalence of childhood obesity and dyslipidemia is increasing worldwide, making it a public health concern. As clinical evidence has accumulated, guidelines for dyslipidemia in children have been continuously revised since 1992. The limitations of screening tests for individuals with a family history of dyslipidemia emphasize the necessity of universal screening, and non-HDL cholesterol assessment is recommended as a screening test for dyslipidemia in children. The guidelines for dyslipidemia in Korean children and adolescents published in 2017 recommend that non-HDL cholesterol screening tests be performed in non-fasting conditions at 9–11 years and 17–21 years of age. The main purpose of this article is to describe the history and rationale of lipid screening recommendations in children and adolescents and to review the currently recommended screening methods and treatments for dyslipidemia. (Ewha Med J 2022;45(3):e4)