Information for patients who have a raised cholesterol, and a Q risk of >10% with no history of any medical condition related to this, (for example: a previous stroke, heart, peripheral vessel, or kidney problems).
Why am I being contacted?
A blood test result has shown that you have a high cholesterol. This means a total cholesterol of > 5.0mmol/L and/or the non-HDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)>4.0 mmol/L.
From your records a risk calculation has been performed called a Q risk, this is done by looking at the following factors:
Age
Sex
Smoking history
Family history of heart disease (In relatives who are less than 60 years old)
Kidney function
Presence of atrial fibrillation
High blood Pressure
Rheumatoid arthritis
Cholesterol/HDL ratio
BMI (body mass index)
Your Q risk is greater than 10%. This means that you have a 1 in 10 chance of having a stroke or heart attack in the next 10 years.
NICE guidance states that cholesterol lowering therapy should be offered to patients who have a raised cholesterol in association with a Q risk of > 10%. (NICE Guidance 2014 cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification). This is called primary prevention.
As well as offering statin therapy, to lower cholesterol it is also important to:
Look at your diet
Increase physical activity
Reduce weight
Reduce alcohol consumption
Stop smoking
Please click on the following links to other useful webpages:
Physical activity guidelines for adults age 19-64
Physical activity guidelines for over 65
Medication to lower your cholesterol
The most used medication to lower cholesterol is called Atorvastatin. It is given at a 20mg dose daily, which can be increased in the future if required. It can be taken either in the morning or the evening. We would recommend that you start this medication to reduce your risk factors, therefore we have issued your medication.
The following link is information regarding statin medication, please read this before starting your medication:
If you have any concerns about starting this medication, please book into a group information session with our Practice Nurse. (It is not necessary to see a GP).
We ask that you book a blood test 3 months after starting your statin medication, so we can check how effective the medication has been, and yearly thereafter.
As with any medication, if you have any side effects, please stop taking them immediately and book an appointment with a GP to discuss further.
ALL OF THE ABOVE WILL BE DISCUSSED AND ANY QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN OUR GROUP MEETING WITH HAYLEY.
