The results are in from Australia’s most important Test of the summer - and it wasn’t just on the pitch. A national heart health screening initiative launched in memory of cricket legend Shane Warne has found nearly 7 in 10 Australians checked have at least one uncontrolled risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
The Monash University-led study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and presented at the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting, analysed the results of more than 76,000 people screened over a seven-week period across Australia. The Shane Warne Legacy Health Check reached people at over 300 community pharmacies (68,345 health checks) and during the Boxing Day Test cricket match in Melbourne (7,740 health checks).
Study lead, Dr Sean Tan, a cardiologist and researcher at the Victorian Heart Institute, said that the study showed that large-scale community screening was effective and powerful.
“They identified thousands of Australians at risk, many of whom hadn’t had a blood pressure check in the past year. Meeting people where they are, whether that’s at their local pharmacy or the MCG, can make all the difference to health outcomes,” he said.
Key findings: a nation under pressure
- 68.9% of people screened had at least one uncontrolled risk factor for heart disease: elevated blood pressure, being overweight or obese, or smoking.
- 37.2% of those with blood pressure readings were in the hypertensive range.
- At the cricket match alone, participants (mostly men aged 35-64) had higher rates of elevated blood pressure and BMI than those screened at pharmacies.
- Half of those with high blood pressure hadn’t had a check in the past year.
- In rural pharmacies, participants were more likely to report diabetes and had higher rates of all risk factors compared to those screened in urban areas.
Professor Stephen Nicholls, Director of the Victorian Heart Hospital and Victorian Heart Institute, said the results should prompt national conversations about how and where we deliver preventative health care.
“This study shows us what’s possible when you combine evidence-based screening with strong public engagement,” said Professor Nicholls.
“Shane Warne’s legacy isn’t just about cricket, it’s now about changing the heart health of a nation. We owe it to Australians to make health checks more accessible, more visible, and more frequent.”
Turning tragedy into action
The campaign was launched in memory of Shane Warne, who died from a sudden heart attack in 2022 at the age of 52. His death shocked the nation and spurred the Shane Warne Legacy into action.
Helen Nolan, CEO of the Shane Warne Legacy, said the findings reinforced the mission to turn Shane’s untimely death into a catalyst for change.
“Shane was loved by Australians from all walks of life, and we knew we had a platform to do something meaningful,” Ms Nolan said.
“These results are bittersweet. We’re proud to have helped thousands take their heart health seriously but we know there’s still work to do. Shane would have wanted this to make a massive difference.”
“It’s thanks to our Founding Partner, Latrobe Health Services and our Health Partner, Diabetes Australia who fund these checks that we are able to provide them free to the public,” she said.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, but many of the risk factors are preventable or manageable through lifestyle changes and medication.
The research team hopes the findings will encourage a national rollout of similar community-based screening programs, especially in areas with lower access to healthcare.
The Shane Warne Legacy Health Check takes just four minutes and could save your life. To find a participating location near you, visit www.shanewarnelegacy.com
For media enquiries please contact:
Monash University
Cheryl Critchley
T: +61 (0) 477 571 442
For more Monash media stories, visit our news and events site
For general media enquiries please contact:
Monash Media
T: +61 (0) 3 9903 4840
