New CVD model marks a critical step in the right direction

Pharma News: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects four million Australians and claims one life every 12 minutes. A recent heart screening program, spearheaded by Shane Warne Legacy in collaboration with Novartis Australia, SiSu Health, and Wesfarmers, has underscored the critical importance of accessible heart screening in rural and regional Australia.

New data from the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) reveals a sharp rise in the number of Australians delaying or avoiding GP appointments, with the figure doubling over the past year. The surge is attributed to escalating out-of-pocket costs in primary care.

Cardiovascular disease deaths are over 50% higher in very remote areas of Australia and 33% higher in remote regions. In response, a new partnership has focused on providing pharmacist-led heart health testing in the Mallee (VIC) and Gilmore (NSW) communities which is supported by Federal Members of Parliament, Fiona Phillips MP, Member for Gilmore, and Dr Anne Webster MP, Member for Mallee.

Throughout various community venues such as shopping centres, sports events, field days, and Priceline Pharmacies, the program reached over 3000 individuals, with 1,951 opting for comprehensive cholesterol screenings.

Helen Nolan, CEO of Shane Warne Legacy, expressed her satisfaction with the program’s impact, saying “We are immensely proud of the awareness we’re raising, particularly in remote regions where heart disease prevalence is disproportionately high. From the tragedy of Shane’s passing, we’ve found a silver lining by making a tangible difference in people’s lives. Our heartfelt thanks go to Novartis and SiSU Health for their unwavering support.”

This initiative aligns with the recent parliamentary launch of the CVD Impact Report, commissioned by Novartis and supported by the Federal Minister for Health & Aged Care, Mark Butler MP, advocating for a proactive Test, Treat, Track healthcare model.

The Federal Government’s investment of $364 million over five years aims to save more than 4,000 lives and return $3 billion in healthcare savings to the economy. Central to this approach is empowering Australians to understand their individual cardiovascular risks, leveraging the expertise of pharmacists and nurse practitioners in community-based heart health testing.

Notably, 85% of participants from Mallee and Gilmore had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, including high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or obesity (BMI over 30). Among those, 12% displayed all three risk factors, prompting approximately 40% to seek further management and treatment discussions with GPs.

Marco Muscardo, Head of Cardiovascular Therapeutics at Novartis Australia and New Zealand, emphasised the initiative’s significance for underserved communities.

“Healthcare should be accessible regardless of location. We remain committed to collaborating across political and healthcare sectors to address cardiovascular health disparities nationwide,” he stated.

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