Two-thirds of at-risk Australians who need annual heart check ups have not done so in the past two years, according to a new survey from the Heart Foundation.
A survey of 1,000 Australians found that 64 per cent of people aged between 45 and 74, representing 5.5 million Australians, had not had a heart health check through their doctor in the past two years, despite more than half of that cohort having either high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or being told that they are at high risk of heart disease by a doctor.
The Heart Foundation has issued a warning that this could lead to an unwanted spike in heart-related deaths and hospitalisations.
Australian residents, including those in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, can go to their local general practitioner for a 20-minute heart health check appointment, which will help them to create a plan to lower their risk of heart-related illness.
Heart Foundation interim chief executive Professor Garry Jennings said the survey results showed a pressing need for Australians to get their hearts checked by a doctor.
“There has never been a more important time for Australians to come together and focus on heart health,” Professor Jennings said.
“Heart disease is still Australia’s leading cause of death, we already lose more than 18,000 lives to it each year,
“Knowing that people have deferred their heart health during the pandemic despite having significant risk factors is something we find very concerning.”
“This, coupled with growing evidence from studies overseas that COVID-19 can further increase the risk of heart disease among those infected, means heart disease could be silently and unknowingly progressing in a large number of people.”
To learn more about Heart Health Checks, visit www.heartfoundation.org.au or contact your doctor to book your check.
