The new NICE guideline enables us to individualise care bearing in mind the needs of the person in front of us. It is concerned with clinical efficacy, and – for once – the cost of care has not noticeably influenced its recommendations. In contrast, QOF does the exact opposite, demanding that we drive our patients’ HbA1c down to low […]
Advances in cardiac computed tomography: an update for primary care physicians
When to use aspirin in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: acting on the latest evidence
Chronic kidney disease, estimated glomerular filtration rate and the Quality and Outcomes Framework: a survey of GPs in the UK
International expert committee recommends new role for HbA1C in diagnosing diabetes
A commentary on the NICE guideline on identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia
Making sense of triglycerides
Antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis
Navigating the new NICE guideline on type 2 diabetes: Finding the best treatment pathway for each patient
Chronic kidney disease: Helping practices to identify patients at risk and reduce progression
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has moved rapidly up the healthcare agenda over the last few years. It has shifted from being considered as a rather nebulous condition of interest mainly to nephrologists to the front line of chronic disease detection and prevention in primary care as part of integrated management of vascular risk. In fact, […]
Standing up, sitting or lying down: what do these BP readings mean?
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure (BP) is important in preventing cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, and measuring BP is a key step in cardiovascular risk assessment. However, it is not always measured correctly. Readings should be taken from both arms and the higher reading of the two, if there is a difference, should be used and a record should be kept of the preferred arm for future readings. But what about the patient’s position? Does a lying and standing measurement need to be done in all patients? What is an ‘acceptable’ difference? And does it matter?
Making sense of HDL cholesterol in cardiovascular risk
Lowering LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) with statins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has rightly become a core activity for primary care health professionals. However, despite effective lowering of LDL-C, many patients still suffer cardiovascular events. Experts have called this ‘the residual risk’ and have speculated whether further cardiovascular events can be prevented by attention to other lipoprotein fractions, particularly HDL cholesterol (HDL-C).
