Most Patients Treated for High Cholesterol Don't Know Their Goal

Main Category: Cholesterol
Article Date: 07 Nov 2005 - 0:00 PST

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An alarming number of U.S. adults who are being treated with cholesterol-lowering statin medications (60 percent) do not know their target cholesterol goal according to the results of a new consumer survey released today by a partnership of leading health organizations - WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. and AstraZeneca. Sixty-nine percent of statin users who are discussing cholesterol goals with their healthcare provider and do not know their cholesterol goal, surprisingly, are not communicating with their doctor about ways to lower their cholesterol goal and 31 percent are not talking with their doctor about ways to maintain their cholesterol goal.

WomenHeart and the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. have joined together with AstraZeneca to launch the GOAL Standard, a national education campaign designed to highlight the importance of setting a cholesterol goal; promote better overall cholesterol management; and provide tools to enhance communication between doctors and patients, including those already receiving cholesterol-lowering treatment. To help raise awareness, empower and motivate Americans to put the same emphasis on health improvements as they do on home improvements, Paul DiMeo, designer and carpenter from ABC television's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, has also joined the GOAL Standard team.

"The results of this survey suggest there is a clear need for more effective patient-doctor communication about cholesterol because Americans are confused," says Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and member of WomenHeart's Scientific Advisory Board. "It's not enough to educate patients about the risks associated with elevated cholesterol and 'knowing numbers' unless it means something. We need to go one step further and set an appropriate goal that we can help patients reach by developing an individualized treatment plan with clear steps and an end-point."

The GOAL Standard Campaign

The GOAL Standard campaign will provide tools for men and women to work with their health care providers to identify target cholesterol goals and plans to successfully reach and maintain them.

"A cholesterol-lowering program is a lot like a home makeover project - you have to determine a specific goal, identify the necessary steps to reach that goal and work according to plan, checking in on your progress along the way," says Paul DiMeo, who embarked on his own health makeover after being diagnosed with high cholesterol. "As one of the nearly 38 million Americans with high cholesterol, I know how important it is to talk with a doctor to pinpoint a target goal and make a lifelong commitment to maintaining it."

Consumers can learn more about the GOAL Standard campaign by logging on to www.GOALstandard.com, which provides the blueprint for consumers to get started on their own cholesterol makeover. Informational resources available through the GOAL Standard include a fact sheet about understanding cholesterol and setting a treatment goal, a downloadable brochure, additional survey findings and an interactive cholesterol calculator that can help facilitate patient-physician dialogue about the condition. Consumers will also have the opportunity to share their own struggle with elevated cholesterol and learn more about Paul DiMeo's story as he offers tips on how he designed a cholesterol plan, in conjunction with his doctor, to meet his cholesterol goals. Links to WomenHeart and the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. are also available on the site.

"The results from this survey are alarming, especially given the dangers of untreated high cholesterol," says Nancy Loving, Executive Director of WomenHeart. "Through this important partnership and the GOAL Standard campaign, we plan to take education one step further by encouraging patients to take action - talk with a doctor, identify a target goal and then do whatever it takes to reach and maintain it."

"Medication can be an important part of a high cholesterol management program for the many patients that cannot reach their target goal with diet and exercise alone," said Dr. B. Waine Kong, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Black Cardiologists Inc. "Even more, compliance to these medications is critical for patients to achieve their goal. This program will motivate them to succeed."

Additional Survey Findings

- Sixty-three percent of patients* taking statin medications cannot correctly identify the maximum desirable level of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, for someone at high risk for heart disease.

- Eighty percent of U.S. adults who are concerned about high cholesterol do not know their target goal.

- Only 42 percent of U.S. adults who are worried about their cholesterol have had a conversation with their healthcare professional specifically about their cholesterol goal or number.

- Approximately two out of five adults and patients who use statin medications wish their health care professionals would spend more time discussing cholesterol with them (40 percent of adults; 38 percent of patients who use statins).

About Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in cells. Cholesterol plays a key role in forming cell membranes, some hormones, and other necessary tissues. The body manufactures cholesterol, but it is also derived from animal products in a person's diet, including meats, poultry, fish, eggs, butter, cheese, and whole milk. Although cholesterol is necessary to help the body function, a high level of cholesterol in the blood - referred to as hypercholesterolemia - is a major risk factor for heart disease.

The Role of Target Numbers in Cholesterol Management

LDL (or "bad") cholesterol is the main source of cholesterol buildup and arterial blockage. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) identifies target LDL numbers based on categories of risk. According to the guidelines, patients at "very high risk" for heart disease should strive for a target LDL of 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) while those considered to be at "high risk" should aim for a LDL cholesterol level of 100 mg/dL.

About the Survey

Harris Interactive® conducted the online survey between September 22-29, 2005 among a nationwide cross-section of the following: 1,029 U.S. adults aged 18 or older, and 1,180 U.S. adults aged 18 or older who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and are currently using statin medication to treat their high cholesterol. Data were weighted to be representative of the total population of U.S. adults aged 18 or older, and adults aged 18 or older who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and are currently using statin medication to treat their high cholesterol, respectively. Weighting was based on age within gender, education, race/ethnicity, region, income and propensity to be online. A companion survey was conducted between September 23-29, 2005 of 254 U.S. primary care physicians, and 255 U.S. cardiologists. Physician data are weighted to represent their respective populations in the U.S. for years in practice within gender, as well as region. In theory, with probability samples of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results for the U.S. adult sample have a sampling error of +/- 4.4 percentage points of what they would be if the entire population of U.S. adults aged 18 or older had been polled with complete accuracy. Sampling error for the other samples is: +/- 4.0 percentage points for the adults who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and are currently using statin medication to treat their high cholesterol, +/- 6.6 percentage points for PCPs, and +/- 6.5 percentage points for cardiologists. These online samples are not probability samples.

About Harris Interactive®

Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com) is the 13th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, perhaps best known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering and engineering Internet-based research methods. The Rochester, New York-based global research company blends premier strategic consulting with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application, conducting proprietary and public research globally to help clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.

Blending science and art, Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital and one of the world's largest online panels of respondents, with premier Internet survey technology and sophisticated research methods to market leadership through its US, Europe (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/europe) and Asia offices, its wholly owned subsidiary, Novatris in Paris (http://www.novatris.com), and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies.

About WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the nation's only patient advocacy organization serving the 8,000,000 American women living with heart disease and provides them support, information and advocacy. We aim to improve their quality of life and healthcare, to include early detection, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. Founded in 1997, WomenHeart is a public charity headquartered in Washington, DC.

About the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc.

The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) was founded in 1974 out of a need to bring special focus and attention to the adverse impact of cardiovascular disease on African Americans. The ABC is an inclusive organization and exists as an advocate, catalyst, organizer, partner, and leader for innovative approaches to reducing the tremendous cardiovascular disease burden for African Americans. The ABC's primary goal is to achieve zero disparity in vulnerability to cardiovascular disease (CVD), access to quality health care and outcomes from treatment. To this end, the ABC has developed core competencies in four key areas over its thirty year history: Continuing Medical Education, Clinical Trials, and Community Programs and Women's Health.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of over $21.4 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, oncology and neuroscience products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index. Worldwide, AstraZeneca has six major research and development sites, four discovery facilities and a clinical research site. In total, AstraZeneca's R&D organization is comprised of more 11,500 people located in seven countries including Canada, France, India, Japan, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States.

http://www.astrazeneca.com

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