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SPECIAL REPORT

Stroke rehabilitation and long-term management

15 Feb 2010Paid-up subscribers

GPs play a key role in early recognition of stroke symptoms, thus ensuring that patients receive appropriate acute treatment, early initiation of secondary prevention, lifestyle advice and referral to exercise schemes. It is becoming increasingly recognised that stroke is a chronic disease. So GPs will also be central to managing ongoing risk of recurrent stroke and identifying and managing long-term post-stroke problems.
 

Tackling depression in patients with chronic conditions

15 Jan 2010Registered users

For patients with  a chronic condition and depression the prognosis is thought to be  worse. Comorbid depression is associated with increased pain, greater functional impairment and reduced quality of life. Depressed patients may lack the confidence to self-manage their condition, increasing the risk of long-term complications.

 

HIV testing in primary care will help improve early diagnosis

15 Nov 2009Registered users

HIV is now a treatable medical condition. In all, 77,000 people are known to be infected with HIV in the UK. However, 28% are unaware of their infection and are therefore unable to access treatment. They are also at risk of unwittingly passing the virus on to others. Many patients who present late to care have been to see their GP in the months or years leading up to their diagnosis but have never been tested for HIV. In the UK National guidelines on HIV testing have recently been published by the RCP to help improve provision and uptake of HIV testing in both primary and secondary care settings.

 

Identifying patients with the metabolic syndrome

27 Aug 2009Registered users

The age-adjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome was approximately 25% of the US adult population in a national survey published in 2002. In a community-based  study in the US, the relative risk of developing diabetes over 11 years among obese patients was increased 10-fold in those with the syndrome, and the risk of developing CVD was increased 2-fold. The prevalence of the syndrome in adults in the UK is of the order of 15-20%.

 

Suspected anaphylaxis requires prompt treatment

01 Jun 2009Registered users

The presenting symptoms and signs of severe anaphylaxis and life-threatening asthma can be the same. If the patient has asthma-like features alone, the BTS/SIGN asthma guidelines should be followed.

 

Providing good palliative care for patients at home

25 Apr 2009Paid-up subscribers

How can optimal pain control be acheived? What is the role of specialist nurses? When is care at home not suitable?
 

Tight control in rheumatoid arthritis improves outcomes

29 Mar 2009Paid-up subscribers

How should rheumatoid arthritis be diagnosed?<br />When is aggressive treatment justified?<br />Which patients need urgent specialist assessment?
 

EECP: A non-invasive therapy for refractory angina

01 Feb 2009Paid-up subscribers

What is enhanced external counter pulsation therapy? Which patients are suitable for this treatment? What are the benefits?
 

Rapid assessment vital in stroke and TIA

19 Nov 2008Paid-up subscribers

How should GPs manage TIA? What is the role of thrombolysis in stroke? Which patients should undergo brain imaging?
 

October 08: Guideline will aid early detection of familial hypercholesterolaemia

15 Oct 2008Paid-up subscribers

How should FH be diagnosed? When should patients be referred? How should patients be followed up?
 

Updated asthma guideline will improve outcomes

10 Sep 2008Paid-up subscribers

How should asthma be diagnosed? What is the role of long-acting beta agonists? How can difficult asthma be managed?
 

February 2008: Use a stepped care approach for atopic eczema in children

01 Feb 2008Paid-up subscribers

What is the role of allergy in atopic eczema? When should topical steroids be used? How can infected eczema be treated?
 

November 2007:Helping patients to overcome obsessive compulsive disorder

01 Nov 2007Paid-up subscribers

How can OCD be diagnosed? Are children and adults managed differently? What is the role of SSRIs?
 

October 2007: Assessing breast problems in primary care

01 Oct 2007Paid-up subscribers

Which breast conditions can be managed in primary care? Which patients should be referred to secondary care? When is a family history of breast cancer significant?
 

October 2007: Hypothyroidism is easily overlooked

01 Oct 2007Paid-up subscribers

How is hypothyroidism classified? Who is at risk? How is it recognised?
 

September 2007: Offer detoxification as a treatment option for opioid misuse

01 Sep 2007Paid-up subscribers

Who is at risk of misusing drugs? What are the treatment options? How should long-term misuse be managed?
 

July 2007: Prophylaxis crucial in sickle cell disease

01 Jul 2007Paid-up subscribers

How is sickle cell disease diagnosed? What are its clinical consequences? What treatments are available?
 

June 2007: Traffic light system helps GPs assess fever in children

01 Jun 2007Paid-up subscribers

Is pyrexia significant? Should children be given antipyretics? What are 'red' symptoms?
 

May 2007: Harm reduction the key to managing problem drug users

01 May 2007Paid-up subscribers

How are GPs involved in managing drug addiction? How can patients be assessed? Which treatments are effective?
 

May 2007: Detecting genetic haemochromatosis

01 May 2007Paid-up subscribers

How common is this condition? How can it be recognised? What measures are used to remove excess iron?
 

April 2007: One-to-one counselling can reduce STI risk

01 Apr 2007Paid-up subscribers

Which groups are at most risk of STIs? What types of intervention make a difference? What can change patient behaviour?
 

March 2007: Blood testing diagnostic for parathyroid disease

01 Mar 2007Paid-up subscribers

What are the presenting features of hyper- and hypo-parathyroidism? Which patients should GPs refer to hospital? What complications occur after surgery?