Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) - Report - May 2, 2008.

Lipitor: Women’s Insights Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Into Cholesterol

KnowledgeKnowledge(LIPSTICK)(LIPSTICK)

- Report -- Report -

May 2, 2008

Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report

2

Objectives & Methodology

The overall objective of this study is to determine the level of cardiovascular knowledge held by Canadian women aged 40 and older as well as the effect poor cardiovascular health has on the lives of Canadian women living with high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

A total of 2000 Canadian women aged 40 and older answered an online survey between March 26th and April 5th, 2008.

Results from a sample this size can be considered accurate to within 2.19%, 19 times out of 20.


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Executive SummaryLIFESTYLE

Cholesterol is NOT a top of mind issue for Canadian women aged 40 plus More emphasis is placed on healthy eating as it relates to weight rather than heart health On a yearly basis, women are more likely to get involved in charity work and participate in spring cleaning

than get their cholesterol levels checked

Canadian women don’t necessarily practice what they preach to their children While the majority of Canadian mothers aged 40 plus have at some point participated in health promotion

with their children, nearly half do not get their personal cholesterol levels checked on a yearly basis as they should

Canadian women lack motivation to be physically active The majority say their lack of motivation is what prevents them from getting enough exercise, more than

anything else 1 in 5 women diagnosed with high cholesterol or high blood pressure do NOT exercise While the majority of women who commute to work say the round trip takes them less than 30 minutes, they

opt for a car rather than walk or bike

CURRENT STATE OF HEALTH

8 in 10 Canadian women aged 40 plus are at risk of heart disease and perceive it as such, but do not take the risk seriously enough

4 in 10 have NOT had their cholesterol checked in the past year 1 in 6 women diagnosed with high cholesterol do not get it checked yearly

Having high blood pressure may be perceived as more serious than having high cholesterol More women get their blood pressure checked on a yearly basis than their cholesterol Higher incidence of women diagnosed with high blood pressure getting it checked yearly than women

diagnosed with high cholesterol getting their cholesterol checked yearly Those diagnosed with high blood pressure are more likely to take medication to control it than those

diagnosed with high cholesterol are to take medication to control their high cholesterol

The majority of women suffering from high blood pressure do NOT make a connection between their high blood pressure and non-heart-specific medical problems such as kidney failure, loss of vision, dementia or arthritis


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Executive Summary

KNOWLEDGE OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL/ BLOOD PRESSURE & ASSOCIATED RISKS

Less than 1 in 5 women know their own personal cholesterol level (LDL or HDL)

When it comes to cholesterol knowledge, the majority of women age 40 plus are unaware that exercise and a healthy diet are NOT sufficient to maintain good cholesterol levels and that cholesterol levels naturally increase with age

Compared to cholesterol, Canadian women are even less knowledgeable of high blood pressure The majority are unaware that

High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for death in North America More than 9 in 10 Canadians will develop high blood pressure unless they follow a healthy

lifestyle, and High blood pressure can cause dementia

The majority are also unaware of ethnicity and gender as risk factors for high blood pressure

Half of Canadian women age 40 plus are unaware of the fact that more women than men die of Heart Disease every year

Compared to other Canadian women, Quebecois are less knowledgeable of cholesterol and the risks associated with high cholesterol/ blood pressure

Women are more likely to blame genetics than lifestyle habits for placing them at risk for heart disease

LIFESTYLELIFESTYLE


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Cholesterol is NOT a Top of Mind issue for Canadian Women Aged 40+ Canadian women may perceive themselves as health conscious but their focus is on weight rather

than heart health

Healthy eating ranks among the top two areas of discussion Canadian women aged 40 plus have with their mother but half (46%) say they spend the most time thinking about their weight and not their cholesterol levels; nor do they regularly discuss cholesterol with their mother

There is a trend, however for weight to become less of a concern with age (53% of women aged 40 to 49 spend the most time thinking about their weight vs. aged 50 to 59: 48% and aged 60+: 38%)

Q5. Which of the following do you spend the most time thinking about? Would you say it is your ...

Spend the Most Time Thinking About...

15%

3%

5%

6%

6%

9%

10%

46%

None of the above

Body mass index

Cholesterol level

Diabetes

Caloric intake

Blood pressure

Fat intake

Weight

Q9. Which of the following topics rank as the top two areas of discussion with your mother?

Top Two Areas of Discussion with Mother

31%

19%

17%

7%

5%

3%

42%None of the above

Cholesterol levels

Celebrity gossip

Daily exercise

Work-related issues

Healthy eating

Current affairs

Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)


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Lowering Cholesterol Levels to Improve Heart Health is NOT Top Priority for the Majority of Women Looking to Enhance their Personal Image 6 in 10 (59%) Canadian women would not place their cholesterol levels as top priority with respect

to enhancing their personal image

Heart health may become more of a priority with age as half (53%) of women age 60 plus place cholesterol levels as top priority while the likeliness of getting a personal trainer to improve fitness levels decreases with age (age 40 to 49: 29% vs. age 50 to 59: 22% vs. age 60+: 16%)

Quebecois women are also more likely than those in British Columbia, Alberta or Ontario to get a personal trainer (30% vs. 22%, 16% and 20%, respectively) or have Botox injections (10% vs. 2%, 4% and 4%, respectively)

Highest Priority Lowest Priority

Lowering your cholesterol levels to improve your heart health 41% 5%

Getting a personal trainer to improve fitness levels 22% 5%

Drinking milk for Osteoporosis prevention 21% 6%

Having a dental treatment to whiten your teeth 10% 7%

Having Botox injections to reduce wrinkles 5% 76%

Q3. How would you prioritize the following items in respect to enhancing your personal image? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)


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On a Yearly Basis, Women are More Likely to Participate in Spring Cleaning than Get their Cholesterol Levels Checked While nearly half (46%) of Canadian women aged 40 plus do not get their cholesterol levels

checked on a yearly basis, especially among those in British Columbia (38% do vs. ROC: 56%), the likeliness of doing so does appear to increase with age

Age 40 to 49: 36% vs. 50 to 59: 53% vs. 60+: 69%

Women are also more likely to get their blood pressure checked on a yearly basis than their cholesterol with the likeliness of doing so also increasing with age

Age 40 to 49: 54% vs. 50 to 59: 70% vs. 60+: 83%

Q2. Which of the following activities do you do every year without fail? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Dedicated Yearly Activities

94%

70%

65%

54%

51%

35%

26%Tune into the broadcast of the Oscars

Contribute to RSPs

Have a Pap smear test

Get your cholesterol checked

Participate in spring cleaning

Get blood pressure checked

File income taxes


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1 in 6 Women Diagnosed with High Cholesterol Do NOT Get their Cholesterol Levels Checked on a Yearly Basis While over 9 in 10 (94%) of women diagnosed with high blood pressure faithfully check it once a

year, fewer (83%) of those diagnosed with high cholesterol, faithfully check their cholesterol levels each year

There may be a greater correlation between high cholesterol and subsequent high blood pressure than high blood pressure and subsequent high cholesterol

86% of those diagnosed with high cholesterol say they get their blood pressure checked every year versus 70% of those diagnosed with high blood pressure say they get their cholesterol checked every year

Q2. Which of the following activities do you do every year without fail? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

YES NO YES NO

Get blood pressure levels checked 86% 64% 94% 59%

Get your cholesterol checked 83% 43% 70% 46%

DIAGNOSED WITH HIGH CHOLESTEROL DIAGNOSED WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE


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On a Yearly Basis, Women are More Likely to Get Involved with Charity Work than Get their Cholesterol Levels Checked Over 6 in 10 Canadian women say they get involved with charity work at least once a year versus 5

in 10 who get their cholesterol levels checked every year

9 in 10 (95%) women aged 40 plus manage to get a hair cut at least once every 6 months but 3 in 10 (30%) do not faithfully check their blood pressure every year and nearly half (46%) do not get their cholesterol levels checked

Q4. How often do you do each of the following? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

More than once

a monthOnce a month

Once every few months

Once every 6 months

Once a yearLess than

once a year

Read a book 64% 9% 14% 4% 3% 5%

Visit a friend 67% 15% 11% 2% 1% 2%

Go to the movies 7% 10% 24% 15% 12% 30%

Get a hair cut 3% 29% 52% 9% 2% 5%

Get involved with charity work 22% 8% 13% 10% 12% 26%

Get a massage 4% 5% 10% 7% 9% 54%


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When it Comes to Health, Women Don’t Necessarily Practice what they Preach 3 in 4 Canadian mothers aged 40 plus say they have at some point participated in health promotion

with their children such as discussing healthy eating or their family’s health history, participate in physical activities or prepare healthy food

Q7. Which of the following do you, or have you done, with your children?Base: Canadian women age 40+ who are a mother (n=1586)

Participation in Health Promotion with Children

89%

81%

78%

73%Discuss your family's

health history

Participate in physicalactivities together

Teach about eatinghealthy

Prepare healthy food

All of the above: 54%


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1 in 4 Women Say Non-Personal Commitments are the Most Probable Reason for Taking Time off Work While women commonly take a day off of work for personal illness (45%), 1 in 4 (24%) say they do

for some other non-personal reason such as taking care of a sick child (11%)

Quebecois women, however, are less likely than other Canadian women to take a day off for personal illness (32% vs. ROC: 49%) and more likely to take a personal day for shopping or pampering (24% vs. ROC: 7%)

Q8. When taking a day off from work, what would be the most probable reason?Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Likely Reasons for Taking Time off of Work

45%

13%

11%

11%

3%

2%

8%Other

Spouse/ Partner health health appointment

Parent health appointment/ visitation

Child/ Grandchild ill

Personal day (for shopping or pampering)

Personal health appointment

Personal illness

Non-Personal: 24%


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1 in 5 Women Diagnosed with High Cholesterol or High Blood Pressure Do NOT Exercise

The majority of Canadian women aged 40 plus are not getting enough exercise

2 in 5 (40%) exercise less than three times a week and an additional 1 in 6 (15%) do not exercise at all (especially women in Ontario more so than those in Western Canada: 18% vs. Prairies west: 10%)

3 out of 4 (74%) women who do exercise say they don’t get enough of it and this number is even higher among those who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol/ high blood pressure (78% and 79%, respectively)

For the large majority, the reasons for not exercising are within their control as 65% simply say they have a lack of motivation

Women residing in Ontario westwards to British Columbia are more inclined than those in Quebec or the Maritimes to have social commitments interfering with their ability to exercise (12% vs. 5%)

Q12. What are some of the barriers that you feel prevent you from getting enough exercise? Base: Canadian women age 40+ who exercise, but feel they do not get enough exercise (n=1293)

Barriers to Exercising

65%

25%

14%

10%

7%Caring for a senior or someone

who is ill

Social commitments

Caring for a child/ children

Work demands exceeding 40 hrsper week

Lack of motivation

Q10. How often do you exercise? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Frequency of Exercising

15%

12%

10%

23%

27%

13%Less than once a week

Once or twice a week

3 or 4 times a week

5 or 6 times a week

Daily

I don't exercise

Q11. Do you feel you get enough exercise? Base: Canadian women age 40+ who exercise (n=1714)

Enough Exercise?

Yes, 26%

No, 74%


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While the Majority Say their Round Trip Commute is Under 30 Minutes a Day, Only 1 in 10 Walk or Bike to Work

Q46. How do you commute to work?

Method of Commuting to Work

10%

12%

68%

1%

8%Walk

Bike

Car

Transit

I do not commute to or fromwork

Q47. How much time does your daily commute to and from work take?

Length of Work Commute

13%

30%

56%

Under 30 minutes 31 minutes to 1 hour More than 1 hour

Base: Canadian women age 40+ who are currently employed (n=1250)

More than a Half Hour:

43%

Base: Canadian women age 40+ who are currently employed and who commute to work (n=1009)

CURRENT STATE OF CURRENT STATE OF HEALTHHEALTH


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8 in 10 Canadian Women Aged 40 Plus Have at Least Two Health Concerns Associated with Heart Disease Half (47%) of women living in the Maritimes say they have a family history of heart disease, more

than women living elsewhere in the country (ROC: 30%). Women in the Maritimes are also more likely to have high cholesterol than women living in British Columbia, Ontario or Quebec (35% vs. 18% and 20%, respectively)

Quebecois women, however are more likely than other Canadian women to smoke (23% vs. ROC: 17%)

Naturally, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol increases with age High blood pressure (age 40 to 49: 15% vs. 50 to 59: 27% vs. 60+: 44%) High cholesterol (age 40 to 49: 10% vs. 50 to 59: 20% vs. 60+: 30%)

Women who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or high cholesterol are more likely than those who have not, to also have a family history of heart disease, to be obese, or to have diabetes

Q14. Do you currently have any of the following health concerns? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Current Health Concerns

46%

32%

30%

26%

21%

18%

9%

1%

18%None of the above

Congestive heart failure

Diabetes

Smoker

High cholesterol

Obesity

High Blood Pressure

Family history of heart disease

Lack of exercise/ physical activity


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4 in 10 Women Have NOT had their Cholesterol Checked in the Past Year Once again, women are more likely to have had their blood pressure checked in the past year than

their cholesterol (84% vs. 60%)

While 4 in 10 women have not had their cholesterol checked in the past year this is especially true of those under the age of 60, as nearly half (46%) have not had their cholesterol checked in the past year

For the majority of those who have had their cholesterol levels checked, it was their doctor who recommended it (68%)

Q17. How long ago, if ever, did you have each of the following tests? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Participation in Health Tests (Within the Past Year)

84%

80%

60%

60%

43%

41%

24%

19%

10%CRP

Bone density

Electro-Cardiogram

Mammogram

Pap smear

Blood sugar

Cholesterol

Breast self examination

Blood pressure

Checking Cholesterol Levels

Don't know, 10%

I Asked for it, 22% Doctor

recommended, 68%

Q18. Did your doctor recommend that you have your cholesterol levels checked or did you specifically ask? Base: Canadian women age 40+ who have had their cholesterol levels checked (n=1763)


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6 in 10 Women Diagnosed with High Cholesterol Take Medication to Control it 3 in 10 (27%) Canadian women aged 40 plus have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, with the

likeliness of diagnosis increasing with age

6 in 10 (62%) diagnosed take medication to control it

4 in 10 (40%) women living in the Maritimes have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and 80% of those diagnosed take medication to control

Those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure are also more likely than those who have not, to be diagnosed with high cholesterol (45% vs. 19%)

Q28. Have you been diagnosed with high cholesterol by your healthcare provider/physician? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Diagnosed with High Cholesterol

14%

25%

40%

27%

TOTAL Age 40-49 Age 50-59 Age 60+

Yes

Q29. Do you take medication to control your cholesterol? Base: Canadian women age 40+ who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol (n=471)

Take Medication?

No, 38%

Yes, 62%


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1 in 3 Women Diagnosed with Cholesterol Did NOT Begin Taking Medication Until a Month or More After Diagnosis While the majority (65%) of women diagnosed with high cholesterol begin taking medication within

a month after their diagnosis, 1 in 5 (20%) do not until at least 6 months after their diagnosis

Half (50%) of diagnosed women take Lipitor to treat their high cholesterol

Q30. How long after you were diagnosed with high cholesterol did you start taking medication?

Time Elapsed Between Diagnosis and Taking Cholesterol Medication

9%

11%

3%

8%

65%Within 1 month

1 to 2 months later

3 to 5 months later

6 months to within a year later

1 to 2 years later

Base: Canadian women age 40+ who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and who take medication (n=278)

Q31. Which, if any, prescription medications are you currently taking to treat high cholesterol?

Type of Medication Currently Taking

50%

24%

10%

5%

3%

2%Pravastatin (Pravachol )

Lipidil

Ezetimbe (Ezetrol )

Simvastatin (Zocor )

Rosuvastatin (Crestor )

Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

6 months later

or more 20%


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Nearly 9 in 10 Women Diagnosed with High Blood Pressure Take Medication to Control it 1 in 3 (31%) Canadian women aged 40 plus have been diagnosed with high blood pressure by their

healthcare provider, with the likeliness of diagnosis increasing with age

Half (52%) of women who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol have also been diagnosed with high blood pressure

Q34. Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure by your healthcare provider/physician? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Diagnosed with High Blood Pressure

16%

29%

45%

31%

TOTAL 40-49 50-59 60+

Q36. Do you take medication to control your high blood pressure? Base: Canadian women age 40+ who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol (n=544)

Take Blood Pressure Medication?

No, 13%

Yes, 87%


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3 in 10 Women Diagnosed with High Blood Pressure Do NOT Begin Taking Medication Until a Month or More a After Diagnosis While the large majority begin taking medication to control their high blood pressure within a

month after their diagnosis (69%), 3 in 10 do not until a month or more after diagnosis

Most commonly, women with high blood pressure take Diuretic water pills to treat their high blood pressure (38%)

Q37. How long after you were diagnosed with high blood pressure did you start taking medication?

Time Elapsed Between Diagnosis and Taking Blood Pressure Medication

7%

4%

7%

8%

69%Within 1 month

1 to 2 months later

3 to 5 months later

6 months to within a year later

1 to 2 years later

Q38. Which, if any, prescription medications are you currently taking to treat your high blood pressure?

Type of Medication Currently Taking

38%

24%

19%

19%

15%

5%

14%Don't know

Combination medication

Beta blocker

Calcium channel blocker

ARB

ACE inhibitor

Diuretic water pill

Base: Canadian women age 40+ who are taking medication to control their high blood pressure (n=465)

6 months or

more later: 12%


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The Majority of Women Suffering From High Blood Pressure Do NOT Make a Connection Between their High Blood Pressure and Non Heart-Specific Medical Problems 6 in 10 (64%) women do not believe their high blood places them at higher risk for kidney failure

and even fewer associate themselves with risk of developing chronic headaches (72%), loss of vision (22%), Dementia (14%) and Arthritis (6%)

Women residing in Alberta, however, are more likely than other Canadian women to perceive themselves at greater risk for developing chronic headaches (49% vs. ROC: 26%) or loss of vision (48% vs. ROC: 20%)

Q35. Because of your high blood pressure what other health problems do you think you may be at increased risk for...?Base: Canadian women age 40+ who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol (n=544)

Perceived Increased Risk for…. Due to High Blood Pressure

87%

86%

61%

36%

28%

22%

14%

6%Arthritis

Dementia

Loss of vision

Chronic headaches

Kidney failure

Heart failure

Heart attack

Stroke

KNOWLEDGE OF HIGH KNOWLEDGE OF HIGH CHOLESTEROL/ BLOOD CHOLESTEROL/ BLOOD

PRESSURE & PRESSURE & ASSOCIATED RISKSASSOCIATED RISKS


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Perceived Importance of Having Healthy Cholesterol Levels Increases with Age Having healthy cholesterol levels is important to over 9 in 10 (94%) Canadian women with the

degree of importance increasing with age (see chart below)

Q19. How important is it to you personally to have healthy cholesterol levels? Would you say it is ... Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Importance of Maintaining Healthy Cholesterol Levels

Not important,

5%

Important, 94%

I don't know, 1%

Healthy Cholesterol Levels Become More Important with Age

57% 66% 72%

36% 29% 22%

age 40-49 age 50-59 age 60+

Very important

Somewhatimportant


Knowledge of LDL Level

6%

10%

17%

12%

TOTAL age 40-49 age 50-59 age 60+

Yes

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4 in 5 Women Know How Much they Weigh but Less than 1 in 5 Know their Cholesterol Level

Q21A. Do you know your HDL (good cholesterol) level? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Knowledge of HDL Level

9%

13%

21%

15%

TOTAL age 40-49 age 50-59 age 60+

Yes

Commonly Known Figures

86%

83%

79%

67%

64%How much you weighed in

high school

The balance of your creditcard

How much you weigh today

How many times you buycoffee or tea per week

The number of times youexercise per week

All of the above: 39%

Q1. While we are not looking for the actual number, which of the following numbers do you know? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Q22A. Do you know your LDL (bad cholesterol) level? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)


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3 in 10 Women Age 40 Plus Say Their LDL Level is Above the Recommended Level of 4.0 mmol/L 2 in 5 (38%) women aged 40 plus say their LDL level meets the recommended level of 4.0 mmol/L or

less while the majority (52%) say their HDL level is higher than the recommended level of 1.3 mmol/L

Q21B. What is your HDL (good cholesterol) level? Base: Canadian women age 40+ who know their HDL level (n=261)

HDL Level

52%

1%11%

Less than 1.3mmol/ L

1.3 mmol/ L More than 1.3mmol/ L

Q22B. What is your LDL (bad cholesterol) level? Base: Canadian women age 40+ who know their LDL level (n=198)

LDL Level

31%38%

4.0 mmol/ L or less More than 4.0 mmol/ L


27

6 in 10 Women Do NOT Know that HDL is the ‘Good’ Cholesterol

The majority of women who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol or high blood pressure are unaware of HDL as the ‘good’ cholesterol (55% and 60%, respectively)

Quebecois women are the most likely of all Canadian women to not know whether HDL cholesterol is good or bad (62% vs. ROC: 42%)

Q25. LDL is the 'bad' cholesterol. Which of the following reasons explain why LDL is 'bad'? Is it because ...

Q20. There are two types of cholesterol - 'good' and 'bad'. Is HDL the 'good' or 'bad' cholesterol?

Knowledge of HDL Cholesterol

47%

12%

40%

HDL is the goodcholesterol

HDL is the badcholesterol

I don't know


Knowledge of LDL Cholesterol

74%

71%

7%

10%I don't know

It causes weight gain

It builds up in the innerwalls of the arteries thatfeed the heart and brain

It narrows arteries, andmay result in heart attack

or stroke

All of the

above: 7%


28

Nearly 6 in 10 Women are Unaware that Exercise and a Healthy Diet are NOT Sufficient to Maintain Good Cholesterol Levels When it comes to cholesterol knowledge, Canadian women aged 40 plus are the least

knowledgeable of how to maintain good cholesterol levels and of the fact that cholesterol levels increase naturally with age

Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) are unaware that exercise and a healthy diet are NOT sufficient to maintain good cholesterol levels

7 in 10 (70%) are unaware that cholesterol levels increase with age

True False

Some cholesterol in the body is good 93% 2%

There are medicines that can help you lower your "bad" cholesterol 92% 3%

Children can have high cholesterol 85% 3%

Exercise and a healthy diet are sufficient to maintain good cholesterol levels 50% 43%

Cholesterol is damaging because it can harden your arteries and lead to a heart attack or stroke

94% 2%

Women can exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet, but still have high cholesterol levels

81% 5%

High cholesterol has no symptoms 65% 18%

Cholesterol level naturally increases with age 30% 33%Q13 B/ D/ E/F &Q24 A/B/E/F. To the best of your knowledge, which of the following statements are True and which are False? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Knowledge of Cholesterol


29

Canadian Women May be Less Knowledgeable of High Blood Pressure than High Cholesterol At least half of Canadian women aged 40 plus are unaware that high blood pressure is the leading

risk factor for death in North America (52%) and more than 9 in 10 Canadians will develop high blood pressure unless they follow a healthy lifestyle (55%)

Half (54%) do not know that White Coat Hypertension being a symptom where blood pressure is always low when measured at your doctor’s office but high otherwise is a myth

8 in 10 (79%) Canadian women are unaware that high blood pressure can cause dementia

Q32. To the best of your knowledge, which of the following statements are True and which ones are False? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

TRUE FALSE

Blood pressure is the force on the walls of the arteries the blood circulates 73% 5%

High blood pressure can cause sexual problems 52% 10%

High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for death in North America 48% 13%

More than 9 in 10 Canadians will develop high blood pressure unless they follow a healthy lifestyle

45% 14%

High blood pressure can cause dementia 21% 23%

White Coat Hypertension is a symptom where your blood pressure is always low when measured at your doctor's office, but high otherwise

11% 46%

High blood pressure develops ONLY in people 40+ 1% 95%

Knowledge of High Blood Pressure


30

The Majority of Women are Unaware of Ethnicity and Gender as Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure 6 in 10 (61%) are unaware that ethnicity is a risk factor for high blood pressure and 8 in 10 (79%)

do not realize that gender is

8 in 10 (83%) women do not realize that stress, salt, genetics, lack of exercise, age, ethnicity and gender are ALL risk factors for hypertension

Quebecois women are the least aware of this fact (96% unaware)

Q33. Which of the following are risk factors for hypertension (high blood pressure)?Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Knowledge of Risk Factors for Hypertension

90%

85%

84%

84%

57%

39%

21%Gender

Ethnicity

Age

Lack of exercise

Genetics

Salt

Stress

All of the above:

17%


31

Half of Canadian Women Are Unaware of the Fact that More Women than Men Die of Heart Disease Every Year Canadian women aged 40 plus know, for the most part, that heart disease is the leading cause of

death among Canadian women and that women are at no less of a risk for heart disease than men, but are unaware that more women than men die of the disease every year (75% and 68% vs. 47%)

Most women are also knowledgeable of the myths around heart disease and body weight 6 in 10 (58%) know that obesity is a risk factor for infertility and virtually all (97%) know that you

don’t have to be overweight to worry about heart disease or stroke

True False

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Canadian women 75% 12%

Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for infertility 58% 12%

Men are more at risk of heart disease than women 21% 68%

If you are not overweight, you don't have to worry about heart disease or stroke

2% 97%

Cardiovascular disease accounts for the death of more Canadians than any other disease

74% 6%

More women than men die of heart disease each year 47% 23%Q13A/C/G/H & Q24C/D. To the best of your knowledge, which of the following statements are True and which are False? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Knowledge of Risks Associated with High Cholesterol/ Blood Pressure


32

Quebecois Women are Less Knowledgeable of Cholesterol and the Risks Associated with High Cholesterol/ Blood Pressure than other Canadian Women Nearly 7 in 10 (67%) Quebecois women incorrectly believe that exercise and a healthy diet are

sufficient to maintain healthy cholesterol levels versus just under half (45%) of women living elsewhere in the country

Similarly, nearly 4 in 10 (37%) are under the assumption that men are at more risk of heart disease than women and are more likely than other Canadian women to believe the myth of White Coat Hypertension (19% vs. 8%)

Twice as many women living in Quebec versus elsewhere in the country are unaware of obesity as a risk factor for infertility (21% vs. 9%)

Nearly 4 in 10 (37%) do not believe that high blood pressure can cause dementia

Q13/ Q24/ Q32. To the best of your knowledge, which of the following statements are True and which ones are False? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

REGION

Quebec ROC

Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for infertility

21% 9%

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Canadian women

28% 6%

Women can exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet, but still have high cholesterol levels

13% 3%

High blood pressure can cause dementia

37% 18%

REGION

Quebec ROC

Exercise and a healthy diet are sufficient to maintain good cholesterol levels

67% 45%

Men are more at risk of heart disease than women

37% 16%

White Coat Hypertension is a symptom where your blood pressure is always low when measured at your doctor's office, but high otherwise

19% 8%

% Believe Statement to be TRUE When Actually

FALSE

% Believe Statement to be FALSE When Actually

TRUE


33

1 in 5 Women Suffering From High Cholesterol/ High Blood Pressure Would NOT Recognize the Symptoms of a Heart Attack if they Were to Experience One The perceived ability to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack, if faced with one, appears to

increase with age (see graph below)

However, the majority of women do not realize that headaches (61%) and muscle spasms (70%) are heart attack symptoms

Only 1 in 5 realize that chest pain, shoulder pain, weakness, light headedness, headaches and muscle spasms are ALL symptoms of a woman experiencing a heart attack

Q26. Do you believe you would recognize the symptoms of a heart attack if you were suddenly faced with them?

Ability to Recognize Heart Attack Symptoms

72%

77%

83%

78%

TOTAL 40-49 50-59 60+

Yes

Q27. Which of the following symptoms do you think are felt by women experiencing a heart attack?

Knowledge of Signs of Heart Attack

85%

77%

71%

61%

39%

30%Muscle spasm

Headache

Light headedness

Weakness

Shoulder Pain

Chest Pain


All of the

above: 18%


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6 in 10 Women Perceive Themselves to be at Least Somewhat at Risk of Developing Heart Disease The majority of Canadian women aged 40 and older consider themselves at least somewhat at risk

for developing heart disease

At least half of women diagnosed with high cholesterol (53%) or high blood pressure (56%) consider themselves at some risk

Quebecois women, however, are more like likely than other Canadian women to not consider themselves at risk (17% vs. ROC: 8%)

Q15. To what extent, if any, do you think you are at risk for developing heart disease? Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Perceived Risk of Developing Heart Disease

11%

26%

46%

12%

TOTAL

To a great extent

To some extent

To a very small extent

I don't think I'm at risk for developingheart disease

To at least

some extent:

58%


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Women are More Likely to Blame Genetics than Lifestyle Habits for Placing them at Risk for Heart Disease While 1 in 6 (15%) women say they do not exercise at all and 3 in 4 (74%) of those who do exercise say

they don’t get enough of it, the majority (62%) do not think their inactive lifestyle is what places them at risk for heart disease (62%)

Rather, half (52%) blame their family history for placing them at risk, especially those in the Atlantic provinces (68% vs. ROC: 50%)

Unlike other Canadian women, Quebecois women are more likely to blame their smoking habit (26% vs. ROC: 9%) while the thought of a poor diet decreases with age (40 to 49: 24% vs. 50 to 59: 16% vs. 60+: 7%)

Despite more women then men dying from heart disease every year, 6 in 10 (61%) women say it was their father who suffers/ had suffered from heart disease versus just under half who say their mother or another blood-related family member (45% and 46%, respectively)

Q16A. Why do you think you are at risk for developing heart disease? Base: Canadian women age 40+ who believe they are risk for developing Heart Disease (n=1678)

Reasons for Being at Risk for Heart Disease

52%

46%

38%

19%

15%Poor diet

Smoking habit

Inactivelifestyle

Carrying excessweight

Family history

Q16B. Who in your family currently suffers from or has suffered from heart disease? Base: Canadian women age 40+ who believe they are at risk for developing Heart Disease because of their family history (n=851)

Family Member with Heart Disease

61%

46%

45%Mother

Other blood-related family

member

Father


36

Despite Heart Disease Being the Leading Cause of Death Among Canadian Women, Half of those living in Quebec and Atlantic Canada are Most Concerned with Cancer 3 in 10 (28%) women are the most concerned about Heart Disease, relative to Breast Cancer,

memory problems, Diabetes, Osteoporosis or Melanoma 4 in 10 (42%) women residing in the Maritimes are most concerned with Heart Disease while 1 in 3

(33%) Quebecois women are most concerned with Breast Cancer

Q23. Please rank the following health concerns from the one you are the most concerned about developing to the one you are the least concerned about developing. Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)

Q40. Cancer rates are highest in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Does this make you more worried about cancer than other diseases? Base: Canadian women age 40+ residing in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces (n=640)

MOST

CONCERNEDLEAST

CONCERNED

Heart Disease 28% 4%

Breast Cancer 23% 7%

Memory Problem 21% 16%

Diabetes 11% 27%

Osteoporosis 11% 17%

Melanoma (Skin Cancer)

7% 28%

Relative Concern for Cancer vs. Heart Disease(Quebec & Maritimes)

10%

10%

22%

48%Yes, it makes me worried aboutCancer more than other illnesses

No, I worry more about HeartDisease

No, I worry more about otherillnesses

No, I don't worry about my health

DEMOGRAPHICSDEMOGRAPHICS


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Region, Age & Marital Status

Region

14%

9%

3%

4%

38%

25%

3%

3%

2%

1%Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Quebec

Ontario

Manitoba

Saskatchewan

Alberta

British Columbia

Age

6%

34%28%33%

40 to 49 yearsof age



70 years of ageor older

Marital Status

11%

66%

7%

3%

13%Divorced

Separated

Widowed

Married or living

Single



39

Income, Education & Employment Status

Education

1%

29%

15%

17%

27%

9%Post-Graduate University

University

Community College

Technical College or CEGEP

Secondary school or High School

Public or elementary

Income

13%

10%

16%

17%

17%

7%Under $20,000

$20,000 to $39,999

$40,000 to $59,999

$60,000 to $79,999

$80,000 to $99,999

$100,000 or more

Employment Status

32%

13%

8%

1%

10%

3%

32%Retired

Unemployed

Homemaker

Student

Self-employed or own

Working part-time

Working full-time



40

Family Doctor, Mother, Caretaker

Have a Family Doctor?

No, 8%

Yes, 92%

Mother?

No, 20%

Yes, 81%

Caretaker?

None of the above, 69%

Friend, 1%

Family member, 5%

Parent, 7%

Child, 21%



41

Contact Information

For more information about this project, please contact:

Dimitra Maniatis, Project [email protected]

Dave Scholz, Vice [email protected]

TEL: 416-815-0330

Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) - Report - May 2, 2008.

Documents

Transcript of Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) - Report - May 2, 2008.