Declining cardiovascular death rate at risk
Death rates from cardiovascular disease – in decline since the late 1960s – could rise again in the years ahead as risk factors such as obesity and type-2 diabetes escalate and others such as physical inactivity, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, continue at unacceptably high levels, the Heart Foundation National CEO, Dr Lyn Roberts has warned.
Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra, Dr Roberts said Australia was one of the first western nations to turn the tide on the cardiovascular disease epidemic in the late 1960s, when the death rate peaked at 56% of all deaths.
“The decline in the CVD death rate was arguably the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century,” Dr Roberts said.
“However, as we move into the 21st century there are disturbing signs that death rates could rise again in the years ahead.
“We are particularly concerned about the increase in obesity rates and type-2 diabetes, as well as unhealthy diets high in saturated fat and salt, insufficient physical activity and the large number of people with high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
“We acknowledge and enthusiastically applaud the Australian Government for its impressive efforts to improve prevention of chronic disease and for its national health reform agenda.
“But we also encourage it to implement a national action plan for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
“CVD is one of eight national health priority areas. But it’s a priority in name only, with no comprehensive, funded plan to help tackle the gaps in Australia’s approach to prevention, treatment and on-going management of this major disease group.
“CVD causes 34% of all deaths, is responsible for 18% of the total burden of disease and injury, and is the nation’s most expensive disease group to treat ($5.94bn in 2004-05, or 11% of total allocated expenditure).
The Heart Foundation and the National Stroke Foundation have jointly set out a national plan for CVD - Time for Action – that calls for 34 specific policy recommendations, including:
- improved prevention with an increase in tobacco tax (there has been no real increase for almost a decade); an improved food supply; better support for walking, cycling and public transport; and action to counter obesogenic environments;
- a comprehensive approach to improving CVD outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who develop CVD and die from it at much higher rates than non-Indigenous Australians;
- better early detection and intervention through a cardiovascular health check;
- better management of patients with CVD in primary care;
- expansion of multidisciplinary care teams for heart failure patients;
- support for clinical guideline development;
- support for education campaigns to help people recognise the warning signs of heart attack and stroke and to understand the importance of getting help fast;
- creation of a national cardiac procedures register; and
- action to ensure the availability of stroke units in hospitals.
Time for Action can be accessed on the Heart Foundation and National Stroke Foundation websites:
www.heartfoundation.org.au
www.strokefoundation.com.au
