Melbourne, Australia – November 21, 2025 — A new analysis combining Economist Impact’s Obesity Response Index with global cardiovascular health research reveals a troubling oversight in health systems worldwide. The data shows that these systems are failing to detect early signs of increased heart attack and stroke risks, which are responsible for one-third of all global deaths. While obesity is a significant factor, the real threat lies in hidden metabolic and inflammatory stress that damages arteries long before traditional tests can detect it.
Since 1990, global obesity rates have more than doubled, with childhood obesity quadrupling. However, these figures only scratch the surface. The broader issue affects individuals across all weight categories, driven by rising blood sugar instability, chronic low-grade inflammation, and early arterial stiffening. These conditions often progress silently, undetected by standard medical check-ups.
Health Systems Lagging Behind Modern Science
The average national response score across 20 assessed countries is a mere 56 out of 100, indicating a narrow and reactive approach to cardiovascular health. Australia ranks 10th with a score of 58.8, reflecting poor performance in key areas despite having a robust clinical workforce and universal healthcare. Klaus Bartosch, Chairman of CardiAction, highlights the disconnect between clinical efforts and outdated systems.
“Clinicians are doing everything they can within a system that has not kept pace with modern cardiovascular science,” said Bartosch. “Healthcare is still looking in the wrong places, which is why the world’s greatest killer continues to escalate rather than decline.”
Policy and Systemic Challenges
According to Economist Impact’s findings, the core issue is not the lack of clinical effort but outdated policies and entrenched systems that have not evolved with modern science. These frameworks still rely on narrow indicators and legacy assessment models that fail to detect the earliest drivers of cardiovascular deterioration.
- Only 13 of the 20 assessed countries have a current obesity strategy.
- Only one country provides full coverage for all evidence-based obesity care types.
- Six countries provide no national coverage at all.
- Most strategies lack measurable targets, proper funding, or implementation monitoring.
Australia’s middle ranking illustrates both policy inertia and a system that has not adapted its prevention approach to modern metabolic and inflammatory science. Clinicians are committed and capable, but the frameworks around them are outdated.
The Inadequacy of Traditional Screening
Modern cardiovascular science has moved beyond just monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol. The American College of Cardiology acknowledges chronic low-grade inflammation as a significant driver of cardiovascular disease, damaging the endothelium and stiffening arteries before traditional risk factors appear.
“Hypertension management matters, and we support the work of the Australian Hypertension Taskforce,” said Bartosch. “But hypertension is often a late symptom. The current systems in use simply do not equip them with the tools to detect the early vascular changes that precede the rise in blood pressure.”
Current screening methods, which depend on symptom-driven presentation, short GP consultations, and outdated risk calculators, are insufficient for detecting early-stage cardiovascular risks. Between 1999 and 2020, obesity-related cardiovascular deaths tripled, underscoring the need for more proactive detection methods.
Innovative Solutions and Future Directions
CardiAction’s ProScreen service offers a promising solution by measuring arterial stiffness and advanced cardiovascular indicators non-invasively through community pharmacies. This service provides an early view of vascular stress, supporting GPs by identifying individuals who may benefit from further evaluation.
This approach complements existing clinical care and aligns with the direction advocated by international cardiology bodies. The service has been operational in New Zealand for over a year and launched in Australia in July 2025, with plans for international expansion.
“With obesity projected to impact one in four people globally by 2035, health systems cannot continue relying on legacy models,” said Bartosch. “Clinicians deserve better tools, and patients deserve earlier detection. The science is clear. The current approach is not working, and inertia will cost lives.”
About CardiAction
CardiAction Pty Ltd is an Australian health technology company providing non-invasive cardiovascular screening through its PreScreen and ProScreen platforms. Using FDA and TGA-approved medical devices, CardiAction measures advanced cardiovascular indicators without blood tests or radiation exposure. The service supports early detection and preventive health conversations in community pharmacy and primary care settings across Australia and New Zealand.
