Hong Kong will expand a screening programme to more accurately assess cardiac health threats by including testing for high cholesterol starting on Friday, with 4 per cent of participants expected to be identified as only suffering from that condition.
Commissioner for Primary Healthcare Dr Pang Fei-chau said on Saturday that about 110,000 residents had joined the pilot scheme as of March, and about 40 per cent were found to have prediabetes or hypertension.
The government announced earlier in the week that the scheme for subsidised chronic disease screenings at private clinics would be expanded to include blood lipid testing, building upon existing coverage for diabetes mellitus and hypertension checks.
Pang said he expected the new tests would find 4 per cent of participants suffered from high cholesterol, without being affected by prediabetes or hypertension.
“High cholesterol is very common and it is a disease which is not visible,” he told a radio show.
Eligible residents will only have to pay HK$120 (US$15) for the checks.
Those who are diagnosed with high cholesterol are entitled to a maximum of four subsidised consultation visits in the first year, according to Pang.
