Australian public broadcaster linked to increased health risks: study

An Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) science program that controversially claimed cholesterol medication was "toxic" may have contributed to the deaths of Australians, local media reported Monday.

A University of Sydney study published in The Medical Journal of Australia on Monday -- which analyzed Australia's public prescription medicine records of 191,000 people between July 2009 and June 2014 -- found in the eight months following broadcast of the program, an estimated 60,897 fewer prescriptions of cholesterol-lowering statin medication were filled and its impacts are long lasting.

"If patients continue to avoid statins over the next five years, this could result in between 1,522 and 2,900 preventable, and potentially fatal, heart attacks and strokes," the study concluded.

The studies co-author Andrea Schaffer says it is unclear how long this change will last.

In October 2013, the two-part ABC investigation titled "Heart of the Matter" claimed the causal link between saturated fat, cholesterol and heart disease was "the biggest myth in medical history."

The program also claimed the medical benefits of statins had been exaggerated and that the medication was toxic and potentially deadly. Each episode was watched by almost 1.5 million Australians.

Statins, which are used internationally, are Australia's most commonly prescribed medicines, used by over 30 percent of the population aged 50 years and older.

Australian medical professionals criticized the program immediately afterwards saying it downplayed the evidence showing cholesterol medication was effective.

"I think the decision to actually consult a wide variety of credible Australian experts and not use any of that... would be explained by wanting to sell a particular version of the science," University of Sydney head of cardiology David Celermajer told Fairfax Media in November 2013. "I think the ABC has blood on its hands over this."

The ABC retracted the program following an internal review.

Bond University Professor of Public Health Chris Del Mar told Fairfax Media "Heart of the Matter" raised the importance of distinguishing between high cholesterol as a risk factor and not a disease, however in general, more caution must be taken by journalists who report issues of health.

"I find it vexatious when a reporter hears a story which is controversial and then goes and plucks anybody from the other side of the debate and then presents that and thinks they've done their job, without actually getting to understand what the issues are," Del Mar said.

An ABC spokesman said the overuse of statins is a legitimate public health policy issue, which was noted in the study.

"As was stated in the program and restated on the Catalyst website, viewers should not make any changes to their prescribed regimen of medications without seeking appropriate medical advice. " Endi