Hypercholesterolaemia

Learn what the monitoring requirements, and targets associated with HbA1c and cholesterol results, are for people with type 2 diabetes, interpret those results accurately, and develop strategies to support patients in achieving their targets.

The aim of this e-learning programme is to provide learners with a basic awareness of important blood tests and how to interpret them in order to support the diagnosis and management of patients. Section 2 covers chronic disease markers, urea and electrolytes and liver function tests.

There are three sections which make up this learning programme. To access the other sections, select the links below:

Section 1 covers full blood count, inflammatory markers and coagulation.

Section 3 covers thyroid function tests, bone function tests and therapeutic drug monitoring.

Please note: this e-learning programme has been developed and provided by the Welsh Centre for Pharmacy Professional Education (WCPPE). Users should recognise that this programme may refer to Welsh policies and organisations. CPPE does not maintain control over the accuracy and currency of this programme.

Learning Outcomes:

• explain the importance of laboratory testing in diagnostics and patient monitoring
• demonstrate understanding of the theoretical basis of and varied approach to investigation and monitoring of interventions
• advise on the appropriate treatment of patients with abnormal test results
• recognise the drugs that require therapeutic drug monitoring.

The aim of this e-learning programme is to provide you with a better understanding of vascular risk and the NHS health check programme.

It looks at the health policy surrounding the NHS health check programme and how it is commissioned. This learning defines cardiovascular risk and looks at some of the different assessment tools available and how these are used to estimate an individual’s cardiovascular risk.

It looks at the importance of communication with patients about their modifiable risk factors. Information on how to perform the NHS health check has been included and how to embed clinical governance into your NHS health check service.

Learning Outcomes:

• define the term cardiovascular risk and discuss which vascular diseases are included in the NHS health check programme
• describe how the NHS health check programme fits into current health policy, how it is commissioned and some of the practical aspects of providing a pharmacy-based service
• assess an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) using appropriate evidence-based tools
• explain management options for modifiable risk factors following an NHS health check
• manage patients identified as having low, medium or high risk
• identify situations where referral to another practitioner is appropriate following the NHS health check
• develop strategies for communicating with patients who are at risk of CVD.

This NICE Clinical knowledge summary (CKS) offers background information on lipid modification to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. It also provides details on management.

This e-learning programme outlines the risk factors of stroke, pharmacological management of acute stroke, and secondary prevention. It equips learners to provide a comprehensive service to stroke patients, and to patients who may be at risk of stroke. This e-learning explores hyperlipidaemia as a risk factor for ischaemic stroke.

HEART UK has partnered with the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) and the Academic Health Science (AHSN) Network to provide a comprehensive and varied education programme for healthcare professionals. Resources include webinars, e-learning programmes, podcasts and videos

NICE CG181 Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification

This guideline covers identifying and managing familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH – a specific type of high cholesterol that runs in the family) in children, young people and adults.

The Clinical Pathway Initiative resource is a process map of the clinical pathway for case-finding and testing in FH, and is being developed in partnership between the Genomics Education Programme (GEP) and the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN). It details competencies, mapped educational resources and potential supporting digital solutions, and will be made available here in due course.

Information button: This document describes the consistent standards and safe environment for the use of point of care testing equipment and devices for diagnosis, monitoring and screening in community pharmacy, to guide both commissioners of NHS services and community pharmacies.

Heart UK have developed a cardiovascular diet checklist which can you help you support patients to optimise lowering their cholesterol and improving their heart health

Heart UK have developed a number of publications that can be used in your practice.