One in three patients ‘missing vital heart health checks’

MBS items for cardiovascular assessment need to be used systematically, peak advocacy body says

More than one third of patients aged 45 or older fail to have their blood pressure and cholesterol assessed regularly, according to general practice data released by the National Heart Foundation.

And among those who do have both measures recorded in a timely manner, one quarter are found to be clinically at high risk because of their age or pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or microalbuminuria.