Depression after myocardial infarction (MI) is extremely common, affecting almost half of all patients. The combination of MI and depression reduces the chance of recovery and makes it much more likely that patients will have another cardiac event. Depressed patients are also less likely to get back to work and they use health services more than those who are not depressed. We carried out a survey to investigate the perceptions, attitudes and skills of primary care practitioners in recognising and treating depression in patients following an MI to explore how this important co-morbidity is managed in practice. Readers of the British Journal of Primary Care Nursing (BJPCN) were invited to participate in an online survey, together with readers of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Journal. The survey results show that although primary healthcare practitioners realise that depression after MI is a significant problem, many underestimate quite how common it is and have received little or no training in recognising or managing depression.
All change for the NHS; but stay as you were for practice nurses
All change’ is hitting the NHS once again. The coalition government’s health white paper shifting commissioning to primary care has prompted headlines predicting ‘the end of the NHS’. There is no doubt that the next few years will see massive change, but patients will still need looking after, and this is where practice nurses will continue to do what we have always done best – providing effective education and care. And the BJPCN will continue to support you in this – with evidence-based information and practical tips on the management of patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Looking at evidence with detached objectivity
An international perspective on cardiovascular risk management: recommendations for high-risk patients
An international perspective on cardiovascular risk management: recommendations for high-risk patientsD Duhot, E McGregor, Diana Gorog, C Packard
Bariatric surgery: an effective quick fix to prevent the complications of morbid obesity or prelude to long-term problems?
Just one wish…
What would you wish for to improve the management of patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes? We asked each of the Clinical Directors, who lead the NHS for these conditions nationally: “Right now, if I had one wish, and it could ensure that every primary care nurse did one thing in diabetes / stroke / kidney / cardiac care it would be …” Read what they told us:
Making the most of angina management programmes in patients with refractory angina
Refractory angina affects approximately 5-10% of patients with angina. Sufferers are significantly disabled by their symptoms, which are made worse by fears about what is happening to them. They are frequent attenders in GP surgeries, hospital outpatient departments and emergency admissions units. Patients who take part in an Angina Management Programme (AMP) that provides education, stress management and relaxation feel better, live longer and are able to avoid unnecessary invasive tests and palliative revascularisation procedures. AMPs can be effectively commissioned and delivered in primary care.
What is it like to have supraventricular tachycardia?
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) often begins in childhood or early adulthood. In this review, a patient describes her experience of coping with episodes of SVT and the experience of undergoing cardiac ablation and subsequently having a pacemaker fitted.
Continuous glucose monitoring: friend or foe?
Glucose monitoring has revolutionised the management of diabetes by providing the means for patients to check their blood glucose level in real time. This review provides an update on continuous glucose monitoring, looks at the devices available and analyses what the strategy adds to diabetes management.
Making the numbers add up: diagnosing the one in four UK adults with hypertension
Hypertension – high blood pressure – is one of the key ingredients in the recipe for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since April 2009 all patients diagnosed with hypertension should have a cardiovascular risk assessment carried out in order to meet the requirements of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). This reflects the importance of hypertension as a risk factor for CVD. In this article, we will review the correct method for measuring blood pressure and the key guidelines setting out how and when a diagnosis of hypertension should be made.
Water, water everywhere: maintaining a healthy fluid balance
As health professionals, we can spend considerable time encouraging patients to think about what they eat and how their diet affects their health. But we tend to focus less on what they drink, which is perhaps surprising because fluid intake also plays a vital role in maintaining good health.
Helping people to quit smoking
Helping people who smoke to quit is one of the most important steps we can take in reducing their risk of cardiovascular disease, in addition to reducing the other harms caused by smoking.
