Soaring Cholesterol Levels Could Plunge Europe Into a Welfare Crisis by 2020 if not Tackled Today

Brussels (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Stockholm Network Report Says Crisis can be Averted by Better
Practice Patterns and Newer Therapies

A major new report by think tank, The Stockholm Network, shows
policy makers are not doing enough to tackle rising cholesterol
levels. The report titled, "Cholesterol: The Public Policy
Implications of Not Doing Enough" suggests that there are significant
policy, health and societal implications for Europe, as soon as the
year 2020, if cholesterol management is not improved now. The report
concludes that the crisis could be averted if simple steps are taken
to improve access to treatments and encourage implementation of
existing cholesterol management guidelines.

Split into two sections - a literature review and a future
analysis - The Stockholm Network report examines both the current
management of cholesterol in Europe and the predicted implications if
this situation persists into the year 2020. Currently, heart disease
causes 1.9 million deaths every year in the EU. The increase in
levels of the disease is due to a combination of factors such as high
cholesterol, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking and obesity.
While public health programmes have made significant efforts to
educate people of the benefits of stopping smoking and losing weight
there remains a gaping hole in Government policies to tackle the
problem of high cholesterol.

Political columnist Stephen Pollard analyses the situation in 2020
if rising cholesterol levels are left unchecked. He suggests that an
ageing population and the rising incidence of diabetes will worsen
and the situation will become a health and social welfare crisis. He
also examines the strain this will place on Europe's welfare systems
and how that will adversely affect national budgets and economic
growth.

Leading cardiovascular expert Professor Catapano, Professor of
Pharmacology, University of Milan, comments: "This report highlights
the significant medical implications of the treatment gap that exists
in cholesterol management throughout Europe. However, the medical
community can and must take action in addressing poor cholesterol
management by using the tools that are available to them right now
such as the guidelines and new treatments. In particular at risk
patients such as people with diabetes and other high risk factors
must be managed more aggressively."

In the literature review, Tony Hockley, the Director of the Policy
Analysis Centre and health policy expert, Mike Sedgeley, study the
current management of cholesterol in Europe. They highlight that poor
cholesterol management is a result of a number of factors including:

- Inadequate implementation of guidelines

- Physician fears of side effects with high dose statins

- Under use of newer therapies to help get patients to target
cholesterol levels

- Poor patient compliance compounded by poor patient-physician
communication

- A disconnect between secondary and primary care management

The Report concludes that reducing cholesterol is one of the key
factors in decreasing the incidence of heart disease across the EU.
In order to achieve this diminution greater focus must be placed on
cholesterol reduction. The report shows that the treatments and
guidelines to do this are in place, however they need to be used
effectively and immediately to safeguard the health of current and
future populations.

Reference:

Pollard, S et al. A Stockholm Network Study on Cholesterol.
Cholesterol: The Public Policy Implications of Not Doing Enough.
November 2005

Notes to Editors:

The Stockholm Network is the leading pan-European think tank. It
offers a unique network of 110 market-oriented think tanks across
Europe providing access to the best European policy thinking. The
Stockholm Network report was made possible through an educational
grant from Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and Schering Plough Corporation.
The conclusions of the report and the views expressed within it are
independent of the sponsors.

For further Information contact:

Katie Perrior
Media Director
Stockholm Network
Tel: +44(0)20-7354-8888
Fax: +44(0)20-7359-8888
katie@stockholm-network.org

www.stockholm-network.org

ots Originaltext: Stockholm Network
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Katie Perrior, Media Director, Stockholm Network, Tel:
+44(0)20-7354-8888, Fax: +44(0)20-7359-8888,
katie@stockholm-network.org