The Stroke Foundation and Heart Foundation have joined forces to progress the development of two bespoke sets of guidelines: one for managing and treating hypertension (high blood pressure) and another for managing and treating lipids (such as cholesterol).
Lipid and hypertension related health issues affect millions of Australians: around 4.5 million Australian adults have high blood pressure and 8.5 million have abnormal blood lipid levels. Each is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Given the large number of patients these guidelines will affect, their development will be progressed by both Foundations in collaboration with Hypertension Australia, the Australian Atherosclerosis Society, clinical and disease prevention communities, and those working primary healthcare, with whom collaboration is essential for achieving a new standard of best practice.
This important body of work will aim to ensure patients receive the most up-to-date and evidence-backed advice for their health care.
A systematic review of the literature will be conducted later this year, with updated guidelines expected to be launched and implemented next year.
The work will support the Roadmap of the Hypertension Taskforce.
Next steps:
- The Heart and Stroke Foundations will conduct a systematic review of existing literature later this year, with key stakeholders invited to participate.
- Key stakeholders will continue to work with both Foundations to design the new guidelines
Quotes attributable to Heart Foundation CEO, David Lloyd:
"There have been significant advances in medications and treatments for these conditions in recent years. These advancements make the current guidelines outdated.
"The Heart and Stroke Foundations are very much looking forward to working with key stakeholders from the clinical and disease prevention communities to design new guidelines that ensure patients receive the most up-to-date and evidence-backed advice for their health care."
Quotes attributable to Stroke Foundation CEO, Lisa Murphy:
"Stroke and heart attacks are largely preventable through best-practice management of risk factors such as cholesterol and hypertension.
"The Australian clinical and disease prevention sectors have an exciting opportunity to help us progress the review and re-design of a global gold standard in clinical guidelines for helping people improve the management of their cholesterol and blood pressure.
Quotes attributable to the President of the Australian Atherosclerosis Society, Prof Judy de Haan:
"The Australian Atherosclerosis Society supports the initiatives of the Stroke and Heart Foundation to update current guidelines to incorporate recommendations based on the most up-to-date assessments of newer drug therapies aimed at reducing heart attacks and stroke.
"New guidelines for clinicians that address the most up-to-date treatment modalities would represent a significant step forward in the quest to reduce the chronic disease burden in the Australian population."
