Australia is in the midst of a high cholesterol crisis, according to a new report, which estimates that more than 6.5 million Australians have levels that put them at an increased risk of heart attack.
The Heart Foundation report warns that many people with high cholesterol, which is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Australia, are unaware of the issue as there are no obvious symptoms.
The report, Cholesterol Roadblocks and Solutions, was developed in collaboration with the World Heart Federation and a round table of Australian healthcare experts and identifies a number of ‘roadblocks’ that are contributing to the crisis.
Speaking at the release of the report last week, Heart Foundation national research and innovation manager Erin Bowen said: “We estimate that millions of Australians could be unaware they have high cholesterol and therefore at greater risk of heart attack in the coming years.”
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The roadblocks identified in the report are in four distinct areas: at clinician level, consumer level, health system level and what the report terms as ‘evidence gaps’.
At clinician level, the report identifies a number of factors, including a shortage of GPs, time pressures and patients with multiple conditions. Along with these there are gaps in knowledge and education in cholesterol treatment and a lack of confidence in prescribing lipid-lowering treatments.
Many of the issues at patient level are not unique to the cholesterol crisis. These issues include complacency, fear of diagnosis, failure to adhere to prescribed medications, and a general lack of awareness of the need for assessment and, the bane of our time, misinformation spread via social and other media.
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Perhaps most concerning of all are the roadblocks identified at the health system level. These include the lack of a structured national cardiovascular disease risk assessment program, the lack of integrated electronic records and linked data systems, fragmentation across all levels of care, and inequitable access to healthcare.
One facet of high cholesterol that many people are unaware of is a largely inherited condition known as familial hypercholesterolaemia. The report states there are about 100,000 Australians with familial hypercholesterolaemia, but most are undiagnosed and inadequately treated.
What can be done to tackle these issues?
Fortunately, the report identifies a number of ways to reduce the risks associated with high cholesterol and to lower cholesterol levels.
Many of the recommendations are targeted at health system and clinician levels, but there are also suggestions for patients who may be at risk. These include encouraging patients to enrol with a single general practice to improve continuity of care, and a greater role for dietitians and exercise physiologists to address lifestyle risk factors and improve function and quality of life.
Read: Eight foods that lower bad cholesterol
Ms Bowen is confident the report will have a significant impact on the crisis. “With thanks to our round table participants, the Heart Foundation has identified key roadblocks and solutions we need Australians, the healthcare sector and governments to work towards if we are to reduce the devastating burden of high cholesterol on Australian lives and our healthcare system,” she said.
The next step, the report concludes, is “further stakeholder consultation”, which would in turn result in “a clear action plan for Australia to be developed and implemented by the cardiovascular sector in collaboration with key policy makers”.
No implementation time frame is provided in the report, so in the meantime a cholesterol check, including a discussion about familial hypercholesterolaemia, at your next GP visit might be a good idea.
Do you know your cholesterol levels? Have you discussed the role cholesterol plays in your health with your GP? Why not share your experience and thoughts in the comments section below?
