Table 1 Issues to consider when assessing the relevance of screening for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in children and adolescents. Adapted from the Wilson-Jungner criteria [17]

1. The condition should be a major and modifiable risk factor for CVD with a known prevalence in the population

2. The absolute risk of CVD associated with a given level of risk factor should be known

3. There should be a valid, reliable, and acceptable screening test to identify the risk factor in children and adolescent

4. The best screening strategy should be known (e.g., universal versus targeted screening)

5. There should be an agreement on whom to treat; further, the benefits harms, and costs of treatment should be known (treatment early in life should be associated with a better outcome than treatment later in life, accounting for lead time bias)