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
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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.
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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)
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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)
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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)
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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)
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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)
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)
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%
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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
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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
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)
All of the
above: 18%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
50 to 59 yearsof age
60 to 69 yearsof age
70 years of ageor older
Marital Status
11%
66%
7%
3%
13%Divorced
Separated
Widowed
Married or living
Single
Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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
Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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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%
Base: Canadian women age 40+ (n=2000)
Lipitor: Women’s Insights Into Cholesterol Knowledge (LIPSTICK) Report
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Contact Information
For more information about this project, please contact:
Dimitra Maniatis, Project [email protected]
Dave Scholz, Vice [email protected]
TEL: 416-815-0330
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