MEDIA
BRIEFING
25th September 2008
Risky Business: New 10-Country Survey Suggests Adults
40 and Older
Often Live Dangerously, Even When They Say They Aren’t “Risk-Takers”
• Majority say they’re not health risk-takers,
yet many skip critical health screenings or forget to take prescribed
blood pressure and cholesterol medications
• Up to one-half may have elevated heart disease risk, yet
significant numbers have not spoken with their physicians about
low-dose Aspirin, recently cited as a life-saving preventive intervention
by major health organizations
Morristown, N.J. (Sept. 22, 2008) — A new
survey of adults 40 and older from 10 countries around the world
reveals a significant gap between people’s perceptions that
they play it safe with their health versus their practice of engaging
in risky health behaviors. Surveys were conducted in Argentina,
Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain,
and the United States. Overall, nearly half or more respondents
claim they do not take health risks, including those related to
cardiovascular disease (CVD), the world’s number one killer.
Interestingly, depending on the country, approximately one-fourth
to nearly one-half of those surveyed were determined to be at
elevated CVD risk.* Yet, in most of the countries surveyed, more
than a fourth of those deemed to be at elevated CVD risk say they
have not spoken to their physicians about the preventive benefits
of low-dose Aspirin therapy; this was particularly pronounced
in Japan, where a staggering 83 percent of those deemed to be
elevated CVD risk had not spoken with their physicians about this
recognized therapy. Also surprising, many respondents in each
country admit to skipping routine mammograms or prostate cancer
screenings, colonoscopies and other screenings after the age of
50, and not taking (regularly or at all) prescribed medications
including blood pressure and cholesterol medications, even though
many are careful to get regular or occasional checks of their
blood pressure or cholesterol.
*Using
respondent self reports on their personal health and a formula
based in part on the Framingham Risk Calculator, a measurement
tool that assesses an individual's risk profile using a series
of factors, including age, gender, previous cardiovascular events,
presence of risk factors such as high cholesterol, blood pressure
or diabetes, and other contributors such as smoking and family
history of heart disease.
Greater, appropriate use of preventive measures that include Aspirin
therapy, weight loss, cholesterol and blood pressure reduction,
and smoking cessation would reduce heart attacks by 36 percent
over the next three decades, according to a report issued by the
American Heart Association (AHA) and two other major health organizations
and published in recent issues of Circulation(1) and Diabetes
Care (2). In addition, the American Medical Association (AMA)
in July passed policy to increase education among physicians on
the importance of appropriate Aspirin counseling for the prevention
of heart disease and stroke. Encouraging physicians to incorporate
Aspirin counseling into patient care when appropriate, may help
reduce the prevalence of heart disease and stroke, said the AMA.
The new survey results were released today in conjunction with
the World Heart Federation’s World Heart Day 2008, a global
advocacy campaign for increasing public awareness and promoting
use of preventive measures to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular
disease (CVD). World Heart Day 2008 will be observed on Sunday,
28 September. This year’s theme, “Know Your Risk,”
focuses on improving understanding of personal risk for cardiovascular
disease, including hypertension. As part of the campaign, heart
health screening and other activities for the public are being
planned in over 100 countries worldwide.
“On the occasion of World Heart Day, this survey shows there
still is much work to be done when it comes to risk factor education,
and encouraging behaviors that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular
disease,” said Wes Cetnarowski, MD, Senior Vice President
of Global Research and Development at Bayer HealthCare. “We
hope this latest survey report – as well as the ongoing
efforts of organizations such as the World Heart Federation, the
AHA, the AMA, and other health organizations worldwide –
encourages and increases discussion between physicians and appropriate
patients regarding the importance of preventive lifestyle changes
and proven risk-reduction therapies that include low-dose Aspirin
therapy.”
Elevated Risk, Gaps in Knowledge
Across the 10 countries surveyed, significant proportions of respondents,
from a low of 23 percent (S. Korea) to a high of 42 percent (United
States), are at self-reported elevated risk for CVD. When survey
percentages are extrapolated to total populations of men over
40 and women over 50 (mimicking the population screened for elevated
risk in the survey), some alarming numbers result. For example,
in the United States this could mean as many as 47.8 million people,
in Germany 12.6 million, and in Japan 14.2 million could be at
elevated risk for CVD.(3)
When it comes to knowledge about risk factors for heart attack
and stroke, overall, across the 10 countries surveyed, respondents
tend to rate themselves as somewhat to very knowledgeable. However,
there are still major gaps. In most countries, more than one in
five respondents say they are not knowledgeable about heart attack
risk factors, and more than one in four do not feel they are knowledgeable
about stroke risk. And, though most country respondents have high
awareness (74 percent or better) of the benefits of Aspirin in
protecting against a second heart attack or stroke, and/or its
ability to help save a life if taken during a heart attack, disappointingly
high numbers of those identified as having elevated CVD risk report
they had never discussed Aspirin therapy with their physician
or healthcare professional. This was true of more than one-third
to nearly one half of those deemed to be at elevated CVD risk
in countries such as South Korea, Spain, Germany and Italy; in
Japan, the percentage was much higher, with 83 percent of those
deemed to be at elevated risk not having had that discussion with
their physician.
Health Risk-Takers Around the World - The Highs and Lows
While the complete survey report is available, following are some
of the highs and lows when it comes to the world’s risk-takers
in this survey:
• Respondents across the 10 countries generally believe
they play it safe when it comes to their health, ranging from
a high of 70 percent of South Korean respondents to a low of 23
percent of Japanese respondents.
• Routine mammograms or prostate screenings are skipped
by approximately one-fourth to one-half of respondents. From 22
percent (Japan) to 36 percent (Italy) of those surveyed report
skipping colonoscopies and other screenings after the age of 50.
• Reports of forgetting to take prescribed medications range
from 17 percent in Germany to 50 percent in S. Korea. More specifically,
as many as 39 percent of respondents in China and S. Korea say
that they forget to take anti-hypertensive or cholesterol-lowering
medications. Overall, from 12 to 39 percent of respondents admit
to forgetfulness for these cardiovascular medications.
• From 22 percent (China) to 38 percent (Germany) of respondents
smoke or use tobacco at least occasionally, even though a majority
of those polled in 9 of 10 countries considered smoking or tobacco
use to be a high-risk activity (the exception being China).
• Throughout the countries surveyed, routine influenza shots
are often skipped, by as many as 53 percent of respondents in
the US to 30 percent in Argentina.
• A majority of respondents from all countries report that
they regularly or occasionally exercise with China, Mexico, South
Korea, and Canada (80, 78, 75, and 75 percent respectively) being
the most proactive.
• Outside of health, many survey respondents also say they
recognize where the risks lie. Out of seven, non-health related
behaviors, not wearing a seat belt and driving over the speed
limit were clearly recognized as the riskiest of daily activities
in nearly all countries but Canada and the US, where skydiving
took the number one spot and speeding was ranked near the bottom
of the risky behaviors list.
About the Survey Methodology
The research findings come from a 10-country global online panel
survey project (conducted by GMI and sponsored by Bayer HealthCare)
that included over 3,000 consumer respondents in North America,
Latin America, Europe, and Asia (Argentina, Canada, China, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, and the United States).
Findings in each country are based on approximately 300 respondents
(male and female) per country 40 years of age or older.
About World Heart Day
Heart disease and stroke is the world’s No. 1 killer, claiming
17.5 million lives each year. That’s why World Heart Day
was created, to increase public awareness of the risk of heart
disease and stroke and to promote preventive measures. World Heart
Day 2008 will be held Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, with the theme,
“Know Your Risk!” Activities run by World Heart Federation
members and partners will include walks, runs, public talks, scientific
forums, exhibitions, concerts, sporting events, and much more.
For more details, visit www.worldheartday.com
About Aspirin
Aspirin, life-tested for generations, is one of the most extensively
studied drugs in history and boasts extensive clinical experience;
it has an enviable 110-year track record of efficacy and safety
across a range of doses. More than 200,000 patients have been
studied in more than 200 randomized clinical trials evaluating
Aspirin efficacy and safety across a broad range of cardiovascular
disease (CVD) indications. Aspirin is recognized as cornerstone
therapy for reducing risk of (CVD) events, including, but not
limited to, heart attack and ischemic stroke, based upon clinical
studies and extensive clinical, real world, experience.
The cornerstone role of Aspirin continues to be supported and
reinforced by the global scientific community, through multiple
international and national medical guidelines recommending the
use of low-dose Aspirin for prevention of CVD events in both the
primary and secondary settings.
Aspirin, recognized worldwide as one of the most effective CVD
therapies, is universally available and offers excellent value
for its cost.
As with all drugs, Aspirin is not for everyone. The determination
of who is an appropriate candidate for Aspirin therapy is a decision
that must be made in consultation between doctor and patient.
Patients should always talk with their physicians before starting
or adjusting a low-dose Aspirin regimen.
References:
(1) Kahn
R, Robertson RM, Smith R, Eddy D. The impact of prevention
on reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease. Circulation
2008. Published online before print 7 July 2008, doi: 10,1161.
CIRCULATIONAHA.108.190186
(2)
Kahn R, Robertson RM, Smith R, Eddy D. The impact of prevention
on reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease. Diabetes
Care 2008;31:1-11.
(3)
Using population numbers for men over 40 and women over 50 from
the US census bureau international database for each country representing
2007 numbers in the US, and 2000 numbers for Japan and Germany.
www.census.gov
