Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for significant morbidity and premature mortality in Australia. Ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in 2020 and cerebrovascular disease was the third most common cause of death.
As the first major update to Australian CVD risk assessment guidelines in over a decade, the 2023 Australian Guideline for assessing and managing cardiovascular disease risk and associated Aus CVD Risk Calculator reflect the latest evidence on assessing, communicating, and managing CVD risk. Developed using Australian-specific data and the latest evidence, it supersedes the 2012 Guidelines for the management of absolute cardiovascular disease risk.
New cardiovascular disease (CVD) Risk Guidelines were commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, and developed by the Heart Foundation on behalf of the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (ACDPA) (Diabetes Australia, Kidney Health Australia and Stroke Foundation). The guideline has been endorsed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
The new guideline has been developed according to the processes and standards outlined in the 2016 Australian National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Guidelines for Guidelines.
The guideline was developed under the direction and governance of nine expert advisory groups with multidisciplinary clinical and consumer input (see Appendix 1). Expertise was sourced across the disciplines of cardiology, general practice, nephrology, neurology, endocrinology, stroke care, epidemiology, Indigenous health, nutrition, behavioural science, nursing and pharmacy. Special attention was given to First Nations people’s health, and the Indigenous Health Expert Subgroup advised on every aspect of the guideline development.
The project aim was to develop an updated CVD Risk clinical guideline and corresponding CVD risk prediction algorithm enabling best practice assessment and management of CVD risk, overseen by the Guideline Advisory Group which consists of representatives from the ACDPA.
An individual’s risk of developing CVD depends on the combined effect of multiple risk factors. Risk assessment, therefore, remains fundamental to the early detection and prevention of CVD. The guideline encourages early modification of CVD risk factors, helps target medicines to those who will benefit most, and informs clinical decision-making.
The guideline and calculator help healthcare professionals assess, communicate and manage a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Australian Health Journal spoke with cardiologist and Heart Foundation Chief Medical Advisor, Professor Garry Jennings AO on how HCPs in primary health care can use the resources, guideline and risk calculator in clinical practice.
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AHHA Sidney Sax Medal 2019 Awarded to Vicki Wade
AHHA Sidney Sax Medal 2019 awarded to Vicki Wade
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Contrasting Population Needs and Alternative Funding Models
Dr Jaspreet Saini is a GP with a decade of experience, practicing in West Pennant Hills and Rooty Hill, New South Wales. He began his medical journey at Monash University, followed by internships and residency at Blacktown Hospital, in Western Sydney. Instead of confining himself to a single specialty, he pursued general practice to explore various facets of medicine.
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Australian Healthcare Week 2019: Pitch Fest Finalist Lumin
Startup company Lumin was a Pitch Fest Finalist at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week Expo in Sydney. The Lumin platform is used in aged care where loneliness and isolation can be a trigger for stroke and dementia. Lumin helps the connection to care providers, family members and duress monitoring services in a device that has been designed for those with dementia, vision impairment or find complex devices difficult to use.
Managing Director and Co-Founder Paul Wilson spoke at the Mepacs booth with Anne Dao from Australian Health Journal about the market they target and the design of the user experience, including the remote servicing and monitoring. The integration allows the monitoring team in the call centre see and hear the personal raising the alarm. Mepacs is a provider of personal duress alarms and have teamed up with Lumin.
