Experts in England urge health system leaders to commit to cholesterol

7 January 2025

In the latest report from The Health Policy Partnership, a multidisciplinary group of experts and health systems leaders in England call for increased focus to be placed on cholesterol as part of a holistic approach to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. The report, generated through a consensus-building roundtable event, outlines why addressing cholesterol is crucial for securing population health, economic prosperity and the future of the NHS.

CVD is a leading cause of death in England and major contributor to disability – as well as being both a symptom and a cause of significant health inequalities. High cholesterol is one the core risk factors for CVD, alongside atrial fibrillation and blood pressure, and affects more than half of adults in England. But cholesterol is not being effectively lowered for many people at risk of heart attack and stroke, and often receives lower prioritisation than other risk factors in efforts to improve cardiovascular outcomes.

In Committing to cholesterol: preventing cardiovascular disease to secure the future of the NHS, the expert group presents a vision for change to the government and health system leaders in England for securing long-term progress in cholesterol management and the secondary prevention of CVD, including tangible recommendations across national, regional and local levels.

Read the report

For more information, please visit the project page.

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