HEART UK, the Cholesterol Charity, has voiced concerns about the continued high risks for young people of having a heart attack following the release of a report today.
The research, carried out by the British Medical Journal, shows that while the rate of heart attack has halved in the UK in the last decade, with the most reduction in heart attack event rate and mortality seen among middle-aged individuals, the reduction in younger and older age groups in both men and women was less encouraging.
Rising rates of obesity and diabetes may help explain the lack of improvement in the occurrence of heart attacks among the youngest age group.
With fewer declines in heart attacks in the younger age groups, HEART UK is concerned that too few young people are tested for raised cholesterol with the consequences of reduced detection of risk or of the detection of inherited Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a condition that affects more than 120,000 people in the UK.
HEART UK Chief Executive Jules Payne said: "We welcome the research and certainly the effort over the last decade has seen great results, which demonstrates the importance of preventative care and must remain a government priority.
“However, HEART UK are concerned that younger adults and especially those under the age of 40 are not tested until it is too late. More attention must be given to this important area of public health to identify people with inherited high cholesterol, who are at risk of early death.”
Ms Payne also expressed concerns that post heart-attack victims were not getting the same level of care across the country, as demonstrated in HEART UK's recently published report. She added: “Action is needed on both a national and local level to ensure that all patients are offered suitable cardiac rehabilitation to help them to recover and return to normal life as soon as possible after their heart attack.
“HEART UK is concerned that in some areas of the country less than 40% of patients are undertaking cardiac rehabilitation programmes, so there is a huge educational job to be done as well. Patients enrolled in rehabilitation programmes have a reduced risk of follow-on events and all Primary Care Trusts should provide this important resource.”
HEART UK is the UK's only cholesterol charity and dedicated to providing support for people with inherited high cholesterol. They also work with governing bodies and medical stakeholders to develop better methods of detection and treatment for cholesterol related conditions.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
HEART UK was formed in 2002 following a merger of The Family Heart Association (FHA) and the British Hyperlipidaemia Association (BHA).
HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity - promotes healthy hearts and better lives by:
• helping and supporting individuals, families and health professionals to understand and control cholesterol conditions and other heart risks
• promoting education and research to improve identification, prevention, treatment and care of cholesterol and lipid conditions
• working in partnership with government, the NHS, industry and other charities
• promoting best practice in addressing inherited and non-inherited cholesterol conditions
Two thirds of adults in the UK have raised cholesterol. Over 120,000 people in Britain have a form of inherited high cholesterol called Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) which can cause premature death as those as young as 30 – and only 15% of those with the condition are known.
People wishing to find out more about FH should contact: HEART UK on the helpline - 0845 450 5988, or visit www.heartuk.org.uk
For media inquiries please contact:
David Alexander, Calacus PR on 07802-412424 or david.alexander@
Hannah Slater, Calacus PR on 07731-769269 or hannah.slater@
