The Heart Foundation and the Stroke 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, 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
- It is anticipated that the two new guidelines will be finalised and ready for implementation early next year (2025)
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 These advancements make the current guidelines outdated.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.”
BACKGROUND
Summary of Lipid (cholesterol) Management Guidelines:
- The lipid guideline is completely new
- Managing lipids is crucial as high levels are a leading risk factor for coronary heart disease, which remains Australia’s number one killer
- There have been significant advances in medications and treatments for lipids in recent years, making new guidelines necessary
Summary of Hypertension Management Guidelines:
- The hypertension guideline is an update of the 2017 Heart Foundation/High Blood Pressure Council of Australia Guideline and should be smaller in scale
- Effective management of hypertension is vital as it is a significant risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases
- There have been significant advances in medications and treatments for hypertension in recent years, making an update essential
Why These New Guidelines Are Necessary:
- Health professionals, particularly in primary care, are seeking guidance on new therapies that have become available since the previous guidelines were released, recent evidence on thresholds and targets for treatment, and new diagnostic technologies
- These guidelines are essential for ensuring that patients receive the most current and evidence-based treatments
- These new guidelines will be part of a rolling program by the Heart Foundation to lead and support best practice in the prevention and care of cardiovascular disease
- Lipids and hypertension have been covered in part in the 2023 Heart Foundation / Australian Chronic Disease Association Risk Prediction Guideline and the forthcoming Heart Foundation / Cardiac Society of Australian and New Zealand Acute Coronary Syndromes Guideline
- However, this will be a more comprehensive review. Implemented together, these four guidelines will complement each other and help reduce the chronic disease burden in the Australian community