Australians drop statins
December 11, 2013
A SIGNIFICANT number of people
with high cholesterol have stopped
or changed their cholesterol
medication as a direct result of the
recent ABC Catalyst programs (PD
30 Oct), a report released today by
the National Heart Foundation of
Australia has shown.
Early fears of this possibility
expressed by the National Heart
Foundation and as criticised by
ABC’s own Media Watch program
(PD 13 Nov) have been realised.
Following the program, the
National Heart Foundation
surveyed 1,094 Australians who
have been prescribed cholesterol
medication by their health
professional to understand the
impact the TV program has had.
The survey showed:
• 29% reported after watching
the program they were initially
confused, worried or scared that
they were taking unnecessary
medication
• 25% have seen their health care
professional to discuss their
medication since the program
• 22% changed their medication
adherence, either by stopping,
stopping then restarting
or reducing the number of
medications taken. One in four
of those who have altered their
medication have previously had a
heart event
• 12% started taking natural
remedies
• 9% completely stopped taking
their medication since watching,
reading or hearing about the show
Heart Foundation national ceo Dr
Lyn Roberts said the organisation
has always had serious concerns
about information presented in the
Catalyst program and now there is
strong data to confirm worst fears.
“The survey also showed
that almost half of those who
completely stopped their
medications didn’t consult their
GP,” Roberts said.
“What is most worrying is that
of the people who have stopped
taking their medication, one in four
have previously had a heart event,
such as a heart attack or stroke.
“This is extremely frightening as
these are the people who are most
at risk of having another heart
attack or stroke, and they may not
survive another one.”
Extrapolating the data means that
“we could see up to 2,000 or more
heart attacks or strokes over the
next 5 years,” she warned.
Roberts said the results reveal
a “major public health issue that
governments can’t ignore”.
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