Dyslipidaemia is a health risk many Australians don’t fully understand, with widespread misunderstanding of the dangers and the critical need for lifelong management of abnormal cholesterol levels, according to a major new national campaign being launched by cardiologists this month.
Sponsored by heart charities and companies such as Novartis and Amgen, Australia’s first Cholesterol Awareness Week (14-17 November) aims to highlight the risks of abnormal lipids and promote early detection and intervention.
Supporters include cardiologists Professor Gemma Figtree and Associate Professor Peter Psaltis, who say they hope to improve engagement with policymakers as well as patients to act on the challenge of underdiagnosed and undertreated hyperlipidaemia.
“General practitioners, specialists, nurses and allied healthcare professionals are on the front lines of this silent epidemic,” said Professor Figtree, Chair of the multi-disciplinary Cardiovascular Initiative at the University of Sydney, “By actively engaging with patients about their cholesterol levels and risk factors, and empowering them to take initiative in their care, we can play a pivotal role in enhancing health literacy and outcomes.”
The campaign highlights findings from the Insights from Patients Living with Elevated Cholesterol (IPEC) study [link here], which surveyed people who were diagnosed with high LDL-C by a physician at least two years prior. The results revealed that many Australians – like many across the world – have significant gaps in knowledge about cholesterol and its link to cardiovascular diseases. Even after receiving a diagnosis of high cholesterol, patients often remain unaware of the potential severity of their condition until they experience a serious cardiac event.
Additionally, a substantial number are unaware that cholesterol-lowering medications often require lifelong adherence. The study revealed that nearly half of the participants worldwide did not know that they would need to manage their cholesterol levels continuously.
“We all have it, and we all need it—but concerningly, most Australians have limited understanding of what cholesterol is and the true impact it can have on our heart health,” said Tanya Hall, CEO and founder of Hearts4Heart, which contributed to the Australian arm of the IPEC study.
The organisation, along with Heart Support Australia and Heartbeat of Sport, is pushing for greater awareness about early detection for high cholesterol and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and are rolling out a campaign urging Australians to speak to their doctor about heart health check-ups.
The Heart of the Issue
In recent years ASCVD has been linked to nearly a quarter of all deaths in the country, accounting for a significant portion of the $14.3 billion Australia spends annually on cardiovascular healthcare, says Ms Hall.
The IPEC study captured voices of patients who felt uninformed or unsupported after diagnosis. In cases from Australia, Brazil, and the United States, many patients were left unsure about treatment expectations, lifestyle changes, and the permanency of their conditions.
One Australian participant recalled, “The doctor told me I had to go on medication, but it wasn’t made clear that it would be for the rest of my life.” Others, like an American woman with high cholesterol, said she felt in the dark about how her condition impacted her specific health profile as a woman or how her family history affected her risk.
While many participants surveyed expressed gratitude for treatment options, they also voiced a desire for better communication about the importance of medication adherence, lifestyle adjustments, and the long-term nature of managing cholesterol. Following major cardiac events, some participants reported taking a more active role in their care, making dietary changes and adopting healthier habits they previously overlooked.
For many people in the study, it was only after a cardiac scare that they began making meaningful lifestyle changes. Some participants described a newfound commitment to dietary adjustments and exercise, as well as a stronger adherence to medication regimens.
A key part of Cholesterol Awareness Week [link to resources here] is to encourage all Australians to schedule heart health check-ups with their doctors. Early detection and education are seen as crucial to preventing ASCVD and empowering people to take charge of their health.
“Unfortunately, high cholesterol is often underestimated by both the public and policymakers,” Ms Hall said. “We hope that this joint initiative helps spark meaningful dialogue to ensure the needs of people impacted by high cholesterol are identified and addressed by policymakers.”