Hypercholesterolaemia

This focal point will give you an understanding of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), and its identification and management. It will enable you to improve care for people with known FH and identify people who are not yet diagnosed, supporting them to make informed decisions about their condition.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• recognise the characteristics of an individual that suggest they may have familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)
• describe the tools commonly used in the initial diagnosis of FH
• refer a person who may need assessment for a diagnosis of FH to an appropriate healthcare professional
• discuss the condition and its impact on cardiovascular risk in a sensitive and person-centred way
• apply the principles of shared decision making to support people living with FH to optimise their treatment
• create a list of resources to enable you to support people living with FH to make lifestyle choices that can reduce their cardiovascular risk.

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.

The aim of this e-course is to develop your knowledge and skills in cardiovascular therapeutics. This will enable you to provide a person-centred approach to support the healthcare of people living with or at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. It is designed for pharmacy professionals working in all areas of practice.

To facilitate your learning, we have structured the course into seven units. Some units are larger than others, but we estimate that you will need to commit an average of three hours of learning for each unit.

• Unit 1 – Introduction to cardiovascular therapeutics
• Unit 2 – Atrial fibrillation
• Unit 3 – Blood pressure
• Unit 4 – Cholesterol
• Unit 5 – Stable angina
• Unit 6 – Acute coronary syndrome
• Unit 7 – Heart failure

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme, you should be able to:

• describe the anatomy and function of the cardiovascular system
• explain the changes to cardiovascular system anatomy and function occurring in common cardiovascular conditions
• identify opportunities to develop your role and professional networks to deliver holistic and seamless care for people living with or at higher risk of cardiovascular disease
• apply your knowledge of medicines and cardiovascular guidelines to support evidence-based decisions and medicines optimisation for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease
• demonstrate a shared decision making approach to the care of people living with or at higher risk of cardiovascular disease
• create a personal action plan that describes the actions you will take to support people living with or at higher risk of cardiovascular disease

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.

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.

This case study forms part of the Biochemistry learning gateway. On this learning gateway page, you will find a range of learning resources which aim to increase your knowledge, skills, and confidence in relation to biochemistry.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

• describe the blood test monitoring requirements for people with Type 2 diabetes
• identify how pharmacy professionals can develop strategies to support people to reach their HbA1c and cholesterol targets.

This e-assessment is linked with the CPPE Familial hypercholesterolaemia: supporting people better focal point programme and assesses you on the learning outcomes within that programme.

Why should I do this assessment?

This e-assessment completes the learning you began with the CPPE Familial hypercholesterolaemia: supporting people better focal point programme. Access and successful completion will contribute to your own personal development plan, be recorded in your My CPPE record and will enable you to complete a revalidation record on the learning. It may also provide evidence for achieving competencies in the different competency frameworks that apply across your career. 

This e-assessment is linked with the CPPE Fundamentals of cardiovascular therapeutics e-course programme, and assesses you on the learning outcomes in that programme. 

Why should I do this assessment?

This e-assessment completes the learning you began with the CPPE Fundamentals of cardiovascular therapeutics e-course. Access and successful completion will contribute to your own personal development plan, be recorded in your My CPPE record and will enable you to complete a CPD entry on the learning. It may also provide evidence for achieving competencies in the RPS Foundation or Advanced Pharmacy Frameworks. If you are working towards completing a Declaration of Competence for a pharmacy service, successful completion of this assessment will provide evidence of your learning.

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

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.