The NICE 2015 guidelines on the diagnosis and management of menopause provides useful evidence-based guidance on the menopause, but it is unclear if many GPs are able to confidently prescribe appropriate hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This brief article gives an overview of the importance of HRT and aims to help GPs to manage their patients experiencing menopause.
BHF blood pressure pilots: Changing the conversation about hypertension
As many as 16 million people in the UK are estimated to have hypertension, and around 7 million of these are undiagnosed. Of those diagnosed in England, one third are not receiving optimum management.
Dietary interventions for weight loss: What works?
Obesity is estimated to be responsible for more than 30,000 deaths each year, reducing lifespan by an average of nine years. The links between obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are well documented, but overweight and obesity also causes 6% of cancers in the UK. These figures have resulted in warnings that obesity is the new smoking when it comes to risks to health and longevity. So the problem is clear. The challenge is to put into action what works.
CVD risk factors: New evidence, new approaches?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Elevated blood pressure (BP) is the main global risk factor for premature morbidity and mortality, and the prevalence of hypertensive heart disease is not declining over time. Improved control of high BP is, therefore, fundamental to further prevention of CVD, and adoption of treatment guidelines can have a positive impact on BP-related outcomes.
Evaluating low-risk patients with chest pain
A local GP practice in Milton Keynes has designed a valuable tool to triage patients presenting with chest pain and to help them avoid unnecessary emergency hospital admissions. The locality has no dedicated unit, so patients require either emergency hospital admission, a referral to Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic (RACP), cardiology outpatient clinic (OPD), or management in primary care.
Examining the migraine-CVD link
There appears to be an association between migraine and cardiovascular disease and especially ischaemic stroke. How real is the absolute risk, what may be the cause, and what, if anything should we tell our patients?
Editorial: Cardiovascular disease prevention – saving hearts and minds together
Given that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for a quarter of all deaths in the UK and is the largest cause of premature mortality in deprived areas, the NHS Long Term Plan recognises that CVD is the single biggest area where the NHS can save lives over the next 10 years.
Editorial: Continuing focus on CVD prevention
In the 70 years since the NHS was founded there have indeed been remarkable successes in reducing mortality from common conditions, an important example being deaths due to heart and circulatory disease. Yet the statistics show that there is more to be done to prevent the toll of premature death and years of disability associated with CVD. For this reason, we welcome the continuing focus on CVD prevention as set out in this publication, produced with the support of PHE and NHS England.
Cardiovascular disease prevention: Saving hearts and minds together
Over the last few decades, there has been a great focus on reducing premature deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although this is true, CVD still remains a significant cause of disability and death in the United Kingdom. With nearly 7 million people are living with CVD in England, and a quarter of deaths each […]
NICE Chronic Heart Failure guideline update 2018
The updated Chronic Heart Failure guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence was published in September. This article covers the key recommendations relevant to primary care.
Monitoring patients with AF on DOACs
Many patients with atrial fibrillation are treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to reduce the risk of stroke. To maintain patient safety, clinicians must be educated on how to manage DOACs, from safe prescribing to managing complications. A recent audit shows the potential for inadequate monitoring when compared to local clinical protocols.
The NHS Health Check: A world leading non-communicable disease prevention programme
This article reviews the important and growing role of the NHS Health Check in tackling some of the challenges in prevention and treatment of CVD and other non-communicable diseases.
