Three hundred and forty-five thousand people die each year from cardiovascular diseases (1). Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in Germany with 36 per cent of all deaths (2). One trigger can be consistently high cholesterol, in particular too high a level of LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein). However, many people don’t know their cholesterol level. Also, LDL cholesterol, in comparison to blood pressure, for example, receives little attention in health care (3–7). “Cholesterol Day”, initiated by the DGFF (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Bekämpfung von Fettstoffwechselstörungen und ihren Folgeerkrankungen [Lipid-Liga] – German Society for Combatting Lipid Metabolic Disorders and their Secondary Diseases [Lipid-Liga]), on 18 June highlights this risk factor. In conjunction with doctors, expert associations and a patient organisation, Serviceplan Health & Life and the biotech company Amgen are initiating an information campaign on cardiovascular health and the LDL cholesterol risk factor that is broad in its scope.

Munich, 18 June 2021 — Today, under the slogan “Germany is reducing cholesterol risk”,   an information campaign with the aim of drawing attention to the risks of cardiovascular diseases and making clear the important role of prevention starts on “Cholesterol Day”. Within this context, the medical practitioner and television presenter Dr Johannes Wimmer calls for people to think about their cardiovascular health, complete a risk questionnaire and discuss the information provided there on their next visit to their doctor. Serviceplan Health & Life is responsible for the conceptual, content-related and creative development of the testimonial campaign.

“Many people neither know their LDL cholesterol level nor their individual cardiovascular risk”, says Dr Wimmer. “Regular check-ups by the doctor and active cooperation of affected people with their treatment for cardiovascular diseases are immensely important.”

The cross-media campaign includes online and social media actions as well as print advertisements and DOOH (pharmacies). Communication begins with an activating keynote presentation by Dr Wimmer with regard to patient communication on social networks. Gradually, within the campaign’s framework, further, valuable content will be produced, for example diverse information videos. A specially created landing page linked to www.cholesterin-neu-verstehen.de has further information available about this topic. The information campaign is supported by the three expert associations DGFF (Lipid-Liga)  e.V., DACH-Gesellschaft Prävention von Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen e.V. (DACH-Society for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases) and the DGPR – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Prävention und Rehabilitation von Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen e.V. (German Society for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Cardiovascular Diseases) as well as the network initiative EIT Health Germany, and the patient organisation for patients with familial  hypercholesterolaemia and other serious genetic lipid metabolic disorders CholCo e.V. (Cholesterin & Co).

“Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the number one cause of death in Germany. A troubling state of affairs. We’re very much looking forward to drawing attention to the subject of ‘cholesterol risk’  through our cross-media campaign together with Amgen and being able to offer a specific contribution to the lowering of the heart attack risk. It’s fantastic when purpose meets creativity!”, says Florian Bernsdorf, Managing Partner of Serviceplan Health & Life.

References

1.      ww.gbe-bund.de, accessed: 03.05.2021; deaths, death rate (per 100,000 inhabitants, age-standardised, from 1998). Grouping factors: years, region, age, gender, nationality, ICD-10; heart attack (I21­–I22); stroke/cerebral infarct (I63).

2.      https://www.destatis.de/DE/Service/Statistik-Campus/Datenreport/Downloads/datenreport-2021-kap-9.pdf?__blob=publicationFile, accessed: 28.05.2021

3.      Robert Koch-Institut (Hrsg.) (2015) Health in Germany. Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes. Gemeinsam getragen von RKI und Destatis. RKI, Berlin.

4.      Du Y et al. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2015; 3: 1–10.

5.      Scheidt-NaveC et al. Bundesgesundheitsblatt. 2013; 56: 661–667.

6.      März W et al. Artherosclerosis2018; 268: 99–107.

7.      Fox KM et al. Clin Res Cardiol2018; 107: 380–388.