A storm of criticism has arisen after the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association decided to recommend statins for children as young as 8 years old with high lipid concentrations and for those as young as 2 years old with major cardiovascular risk factors.

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a new clinical report, replacing one from 1998. It said that doctors should measure cholesterol concentrations in children aged 2 years and over and should treat children with high concentrations with statins, probably for life (Pediatrics 2008;122:198-208). The report echoed last year’s report by the American Heart Association (Circulation 2007;115:1948-67).

Timothy Gardner, president of the American Heart Association, said that atherosclerosis begins in childhood. “The earlier we …