Primary health care
Page highlights
What CVD problems do GPs manage?
In a 2020–21 survey of general practitioner practices 16% of patients had a diagnosis of hypertension on their medical record.
In 2024–25, around 238,000 Heart Health Checks were processed by Medicare. Checks were most commonly conducted among people aged 55–74.
Primary health care professionals, including general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses, and nurse practitioners are often the first point of care for people who have non-acute cardiovascular disease. They deliver a range of services, from health checks, diagnosis and treatment to prevention and rehabilitation activities. Primary health care professionals can also direct patients through the health system, including to specialised care when necessary.
What CVD problems do GPs manage?
GPs manage a range of risk factors and conditions related to heart, stroke and vascular disease.
In a 2020–21 survey of GP practices high blood pressure (hypertension) was the most common chronic condition newly recorded for patients (6.0% of patients). Abnormal blood lipids was newly recorded for 3.5% of patients, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) conditions (including coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke or transient ischemic attack) for 1.1% of patients (NPS MedicineWise 2022).
The survey also measured condition prevalence, defined as patients who were recorded as having a condition at any time before or during 2020–21. Hypertension was the most common condition, with 16% of patients having a diagnosis of hypertension recorded at any time in their medical record. Dyslipidaemia was recorded for 14% of patients. The patient prevalence estimate for CVD was 4.7%, including atrial fibrillation (2.2%), heart failure (1.1%) and stroke (1.0%).
Heart Health Checks
A Heart Health Check is a comprehensive assessment of CVD risk and management conducted by a GP or by a medical practitioner working in primary care. The 20‑minute consultation includes recording patients’ blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar, discussing health history and lifestyle, and undertaking an absolute CVD risk assessment. If needed, a management plan to improve risk factor levels is developed, which may include blood pressure and cholesterol lowering medicines for high‑risk patients.
Heart Health Checks help to address the high disease burden posed by CVD. They assist patients to better understand and lower their risk of heart attack or stroke. The Checks also promote the use of absolute risk calculators by health professionals, and the regular assessment and optimal treatment of at-risk patients.
Heart Health Checks have been covered by Medicare since April 2019 for eligible patients aged 45 and over and for First Nations people aged 30 and over.
In 2024–25, around 238,000 Heart Health Checks were processed by Medicare (48% males and 52% females). Heart Health Checks were most commonly completed for people aged 55–64 (2,300 per 100,000 population) and 65–74 (2,400 per 100,000 population) (Figure 1).
After adjusting for differences in the age structure of the population, the rate of Heart Health Checks was 2.3 times as high in 2024–25 as in 2019–20. The greatest increase in uptake over the 5-year period was among those less than 44 years, with rates 8.9 and 5.6 times higher in 2024–25 compared with 2019–20 among those aged 25–34 years and 35–44 years, respectively (Services Australia 2025).
Figure 1: MBS Heart Health Checks, by age, 2019–20 to 2024–25
Bar chart shows rate of MBS Heart Health Checks by age group between 2019–20 and 2024–25. Rates increased with time across all age groups.
| Year | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85 and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 25 | 168 | 766 | 1,180 | 1,237 | 210 | 66 |
| 2020-21 | 20 | 138 | 700 | 1,114 | 1,181 | 194 | 51 |
| 2021-22 | 48 | 296 | 805 | 1,211 | 1,371 | 260 | 77 |
| 2022-23 | 112 | 547 | 1,213 | 1,857 | 2,058 | 379 | 125 |
| 2023-24 | 161 | 707 | 1,371 | 1,993 | 2,118 | 382 | 111 |
| 2024-25 | 227 | 933 | 1,601 | 2,268 | 2,378 | 463 | 123 |
- Includes MBS item 699 and 177, which may be used to undertake a heart health assessment, lasting at least 20 minutes, by a general practitioner or prescribed medical practitioner to support patients with cardiovascular disease, or patients at risk of developing. The heart health assessment item can be claimed once per patient in a 12-month period. cardiovascular disease (CVD). This item is available to all Medicare eligible patients aged 30 years and over who would benefit from an assessment of this type.
- The figures include only those services that are performed by a registered provider, for services that qualify for Medicare Benefit and for which a claim has been processed by Services Australia. They do not include services provided by hospital doctors to public patients in public hospitals or services that qualify for a benefit under the Department of Veterans' Affairs National Treatment Account.
- Time period is determined by the date the service was processed by Services Australia, not the date the service was provided.
Source:
AIHW analysis of Services Australia (2025)
NPS MedicineWise (2022) General Practice Insights Report July 2020–June 2021, NPS MedicineWise, accessed 12 September 2024.
Services Australia (2025) Medicare statistics, Services Australia, Australian Government, accessed 2 December 2025.