Jules Payne
Chief Executive, HEART UK – The Cholesterol Charity
Over 7.6 million people live with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the UK. CVD accounts for one quarter (26%) of all deaths in the UK.1
Are lipids important for CVD risk?
‘Lipid’ is a medical term meaning ‘blood fats.’ While there are numerous blood fats in the body, cholesterol is the most common. Raised cholesterol is a major modifiable risk factor for CVD, affecting almost half of all UK adults.
The inherited form, called familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH for short), affects around one in 250 (250,000 people across the UK). Around 90% of cases remain unidentified.2 Lipoprotein (a) or LP(a) for short, is another blood fat affecting around one in five people. With no current direct treatment available, managing the wider CVD risk factors is key.
NHS 10-year plan and lipids
CVD is featured in the plan. Cholesterol and FH are mentioned, but no mention of LP(a). The new CVD Modern Service Framework being developed by the NHS and the Government must include cholesterol, FH and LP(a) to reduce CVD events.
NHS Health Checks, pharmacies
and an increasing number of
workplaces provide testing.
How will I know if I have high lipids?
You need to have a blood test. NHS Health Checks, pharmacies and an increasing number of workplaces provide testing.
Inherited lipids
If you have a family history of early (under age 60) heart attacks or strokes, ask your GP to test your cholesterol. LP(a) is usually tested in a hospital setting, when required.
Women and cholesterol
There is a particular issue with women. CVD kills twice as many women as breast cancer in the UK, yet women tend to worry more about breast cancer.3 Cholesterol increases with age and the menopause.
A report from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS Benchmarking showed that females were less likely than males to have a recent prescription for cholesterol-lowering treatment. If women were on treatment, they were less likely to achieve target levels than men.
Call to action on lipids
- Include cholesterol, FH and LP(a) in the CVD Modern Service Framework.
- Take control of your own CVD health.
- Diet and lifestyle are the first place to start for most people. HEART UK’s Cholesterol SMART programme can support you on that journey.
- Some people need treatment as well as a healthy diet and lifestyle. Agree on an action plan with your healthcare professional.
Visit heartuk.org.uk for more information.
[1] British Heart Foundation. 2025. UK Factsheet.
[2] Wald, D.S. et. al. 2016. Child-Parent Familial Hypercholesterolemia Screening in Primary Care. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1602777.
[3] Harding, N. 2025. More women die from heart attacks than breast cancer. I’m lucky I survived.
