An Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) survey has uncovered a widespread gap in cardiovascular health awareness among under-resourced regions of and communities in the U.S., pointing to the need for an educational campaign in these “cardiology deserts.”
Amgen put up seed sponsorship support for the “Every Heart Counts: ABC Cardiology Deserts Campaign” to help tackle structural barriers to timely, quality cardiovascular care. The ABC, a nonprofit focused on disparities that lead to poor outcomes in underserved communities, is running the campaign to boost primary provider capabilities, broaden LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) screening and engage communities.
As part of the push, the ABC ran a national survey to assess awareness of heart health issues. The survey found that 45% of adults in the southern U.S., in particular, are unaware of the differences between HDL-C and LDL-C, types of cholesterol that are colloquially known as “good” and “bad,” respectively. One in 5 Southerners who had heard of both types were unable to correctly distinguish between them.
The ABC found only 36% of all respondents knew their own cholesterol levels, and that number dropped to 30% among Hispanic respondents and 29% among Black respondents. Black and Hispanic respondents were less likely to know about HDL-C and LDL-C.
The survey also revealed barriers to accessing care. One in 4 respondents reported having to travel 10 to 20 miles to see a heart specialist. The proportion of people who lived at least 10 miles from a heart specialist was higher in Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi; the ABC said it has already launched a community activation and provider education campaign in those four states.
Meanwhile, more than one-fifth of respondents were unable to get a cardiology appointment. The ABC said 15% of all respondents, and nearly 1 in 5 Black and Hispanic adults, reported never having received a cardiovascular screening. More over, 1 in 5 said they didn’t need heart care—a belief that was found even among higher-risk groups like adults older than 65, women and people in rural areas.
“ABC is uniquely qualified to address the specific needs of communities and support on-the-ground efforts to improve heart health outcomes in high-risk communities with screening and education,” Paul Burton, M.D., Ph.D., Amgen’s chief medical officer, said in a release this week. “At Amgen, we believe in the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change, and this initiative reflects our dedication to making a difference in the communities we serve.”
The survey and associated campaign are part of a spate of recent initiatives focused on health equity in rural areas and other parts of the U.S. with limited access to care. This past summer, Havas Media Network set up an ad market to help companies reach rural patients, while Sanofi, Regeneron, AstraZeneca, Roche’s Genentech and GSK all backed a rural-focused lung disease initiative. And, earlier this month, the Merck Foundation committed to funding heart health equity work.
Amgen, which sells the PCSK9 inhibitor Repatha, has a history of supporting efforts to increase access to cholesterol testing. The company partnered with the Family Heart Foundation to offer free at-home lipid screening last year and has worked with MinuteClinic to offer LDL-C tests at no cost.