The management of atrial fibrillation: summary of updated NICE guidance

Source: The BMJ

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: July 2014

Publication type: Practice Guidelines

In a nutshell: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced a Patient Decision Aid (PDA) to be used in conjunction with its guidance on the management of atrial fibrillation. The PDA is designed to help patients weigh up the possible advantages and disadvantages of the different options for treatment, in order to be able to discuss the alternatives with a health professional.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: Initial publication of BMJ article about the practice guideline June 2014

New US prevention guidelines focus on overall risk of cardiovascular disease

Source: BMJ, 14th November 2013

Follow this link for fulltext http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f6858

Date of publication: November 2013

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Four American expert panels have issues guidelines on assessment of the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; the treatment of high blood cholesterol concentrations; ‘heart healthy’ lifestyles and management of obesity in adults.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

British standards and core components for cardiovascular disease prevention and rehabilitation

Source: Heart, 2013, 99 (15) p. 1069-1071

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: August 2013

Publication type: Standards

In a nutshell: This scientific statement from BACPR lists seven service standards and seven core components for delivering a cardiac rehabiliation service. It outlines current and future challenges, national and local factors for assuring quality and current gaps in service delivery.

Length of publication: 3 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation

American Heart Association guide for improving cardiovascular health at the community level

Source: Circulation, 2013, 127 (16) p. 1730-1753

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: April 2013

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This guide aims to provide a comprehensive list of evidence-based strategies and recommendations for preventing cardiovascular disease and stroke, which can be implemented on a community level. It gives an inventory of current community-based projects.

Length of publication: 24 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: American Heart Association

Hyperglycaemia in acute coronary syndromes – evidence update

Source: NICE Evidence Updates

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: February 2013

Publication type: Evidence update

In a nutshell: A summary of new evidence relevant to NICE guideline 130 – ‘management of hyperglycaemia in acute coronary syndromes’.

Length of publication: 14 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:  Heart Improvement eBulletin, issue 180, 20th March 2013

Calls for 24-hour blood pressure monitoring

Source: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: August 2011

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: NICE is now recommending that hypertension should be diagnosed using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) over a 24 hour period. ABPM involves a mobile blood pressure monitor that straps around the patient’s waist and measures blood pressure numerous times over 24 hours. This is a change to the existing guidelines.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

British Cardiovascular Society Commissioning Pack

Source: British Cardiovascular Society

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: July 2011

Publication type: Resources

In a nutshell: A resource pack provided by the British Cardiovascular Society to serve as a guide on commissioning cardiac services which can be used as an aid for decision-making.

Length of publication: 12 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Effectiveness-based guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease

Source: Circulation, 2011, 123 (11) p.1243-1262

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: March 2011

Publication type: Practice guidelines

In a nutshell: The 2011 update of these guidelines published by the American Heart Association include therapies that have been shown to have sufficient evidence of clinical benefit for cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. The recommendations prioritise lifestyle approaches to the prevention of CVD and the most cost-effective strategies. The panel acknowledge that difficulty adhering to lifestyle and medical recommendations limits effectiveness so there is a new section on guideline implementation.

Length of publication: 20 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: American Heart Association

New guidelines propose regular heart checks for all Scots over 40

Source: Herald Scotland, 29th April 2010

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: April 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Guidelines launched in Scotland last month specify that all patients aged 40 and over should be invited to have their blood pressure tested every five years. The standards also state that GPs should check whether their patients are smokers every two years. The manadatory guidelines focus on preventing heart disease, but patients who have developed heart disease will also be given a variety of options to help improve their health under the new standard of care.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: National Heart Forum

Cardiovascular risk estimation and eligibility for statins in primary prevention comparing different strategies

Source: American Journal of Cardiology, 2009, 103 (8) p. 1089-1095

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: April, 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Risk of coronary heart disease and eligibilty for statins were assessed in a population-based study of patients without cardiovascular disease. Guidelines from various European associations were used, and the results were compared.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Further dissemination: If you think someone would benefit from receiving this posting, please e-mail them the link to this blog and suggest that they sign up to the e-mail newsletter to stay up to date with new content.