Hypertension and dyslipidaemia are key modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and management of these conditions falls largely in the domain of general practice.
Clinical decisions about management and target levels of blood pressure and blood lipids are best based on an assessment of absolute risk, rather than the presence of isolated risk factors. Treating individual risk factors without assessing absolute risk is likely to lead to both under-treatment of those at higher cardiovascular risk and over-treatment of those at lower risk.
While it is important to "treat to target" for patients with hypertension and dyslipidaemia, it should also be that any improvement in blood pressure or lipid profile is beneficial in lowering cardiovascular risk, and that in most instances lifestyle modification is appropriate first-line treatment.
Clinical Practice Guidelines
- Absolute risk
- Guide to management of hypertension 2008 (updated September 2009)
Download
- Position statement on lipid management (2005)
(reproduced with permission from Heart, Lung & Circulation)
Download
- Guidelines for the assessment of absolute cardiovascular disease risk
Download
Other Professional Resources
- Lifestyle management of hypertension (reprinted with kind permission from Australian Prescriber (Aust Prescr 2008;31:150-3)).
Download
- Salt and hypertension
Download
- Position statement on dietary electrolytes and cardiovascular disease Download
- Managing lifestyle risk factors
- ‘Lifescripts’ resources – for use when providing lifestyle information to patients (clicking this link will take you to another website)
Patient Resources
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Want to give your patients more information but lack the time? Refer them to our Health Information Service on 1300 36 27 87.