Volume 4, Number 3, May-June 2007
POPULAR
TOPICBACK TO BASICSBack To Basics: Making Sense Of Healthy And Unhealthy Fats
POPULAR
TOPICDISEASE FOCUSDiabetes In The Elderly
Brenda Capaldi As the world population continues to age and the proportion of the elderly suffering from
diabetes increases compared to other age groups, the health burden of diabetes in the
elderly is set to continue to rise. Practices need to be prepared to cope with a near
doubling of the number of elderly people with diabetes over the next twenty years. In
this article, we review the particular challenges of managing diabetes in the older patient. DISEASE FOCUSPeripheral Arterial Disease: The Forgotten Aspect Of CVD
Bev Cox Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is emerging as being particularly important in terms of
cardiovascular risk but its importance as a clear marker for serious underlying
vascular disease goes largely unrecognised, with PAD being the only cardiovascular
disease not included in the Quality and Outcomes Framework. PAD is often detected
late, because patients tend to think that pain in their legs is simply a part of ageing. In this
article, we discuss how to recognise and treat people with, or at risk of, PAD using both
pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. We will also consider when referral to
secondary care is appropriate. EDITORIALEditorial
Jan Procter-King, Dr Sue Roberts Welcome to the summer issue of BJPCN – just what you need to read on the beach!
We are delighted to have a guest editorial from Dr Sue Roberts, the National Clinical
Director for Diabetes, providing encouragement for the work that we, as practice
nurses, do in improving the management of diabetes. EVIDENCE IN PRACTICEEvidence in Practice
There are just not enough hours in the day to read all the research journals, even if you wanted to. This section of BJPCN –
Evidence in Practice – will keep you on top of relevant research without having to spend hours in the library.
Each review gives you a bite-size summary of new research, pulling out key points for primary care and recommending the action
that you might consider taking. HAVE YOU HEARD?Have you Heard?
POPULAR
TOPICMONITORINGBody Mass Index (BMI) Or Waist-Hip Ratio?
Professor Mike Kirby The association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality from both cardiovascular
disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) is well accepted. Individuals with high
BMIs are also at increased risk of developing other conditions such as sleep apnoea,
osteoarthritis, female infertility, varicose veins, gastro-oesophageal reflux and stress
incontinence. BMI has been the gold standard for predicting health by measuring body weight in
relation to height. However, although BMI may be helpful in estimating overall obesity, it is
becoming increasingly apparent that waist-hip ratio, which estimates central obesity, is a more
accurate predictor of the risk of health problems generally and CVD in particular.
PREVENTION IN PRACTICEApocalypse Now: Can We Prevent The Next Generation Dying Before Their Parents?
Brian Karet Death rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) have halved in most industrialised
countries since the 1970s and those in the UK by 44% over the last decade in people
under 65. But death rates from cardiovascular disease have been falling more slowly in
the UK compared to other countries, particularly in the younger age group. CHD deaths
fell by 49% in men aged 55-64 but only by 30% in younger men aged 35-44 between 1994 and
2004 in the UK. In women, there was only a 20% drop in the 35-44 age group compared to a 56%
fall in deaths in the older age bracket. Why are younger people doing so badly and what does
this mean for their future? QUALITY MATTERSPractice-Based Commissioning: Collaboration or Competition?
Ann Marie Johnson Practice-based commissioning – in which practices and other primary care professionals
commission services for their patients – is the latest strategy designed to improve the
fit between patients’ needs and service provision. In this article, we take a detailed look
at why practice-based commissioning has been introduced, what it will mean in
practice and how it will work with other purchasing strategies currently operating. POPULAR
TOPICTHERAPEUTICS REVIEWThe Role Of Varenicline In Smoking Cessation
Professor Mike Kirby Varenicline (Champix) is the newest, prescription-only oral drug we have to treat patients
with today’s most important preventable health risk – smoking. With the 1st July
deadline for no smoking in public places, there is more reason than ever for people to
quit. NICE has recommended use of varenicline by the NHS in recent draft guidance,
alongside counselling and support. In this article, we review how the drug fits into our strategies
for helping our patients to stop smoking. POPULAR
TOPICPATIENT INFORMATIONYou And Your Treatment: Starting On Your ACE Inhibitor
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