Cholesterol is used mainly in cell membrane formation as well as in bile acids and in steroid hormones. Both are carried in lipoproteins in the blood. 10Ĭholesterol and triglyceride are the two major forms of lipid found in the body. Such abnormalities can occur at any stage of the continuum, from synthesis through processing and clearance, resulting over time in increased risk of CVD. Lipids are a component of plasma lipoproteins and can be subject to abnormalities in their metabolism due to genetic and environmental factors resulting in elevated levels of cholesterol or triglycerides. Left untreated, lipid disorders can progress to severe CVD and predispose to other conditions such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and pancreatitis. Lipid disorders are increasingly prevalent in the modern world, due primarily to poor diet and unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles they can also be secondary to other disease conditions and treatments. The aim of this article is to review international lipid management guidelines focusing on recommendations of relevance to the primary care management of lipid disorders.

8 Raised blood lipids are just one of multiple modifiable risk factors for CVD, all of which deserve appropriate consideration for treatment. 6,7ĬVD accounted for 14% of Australia’s total burden of disease in 2015, with 27% of deaths attributed to CVD in 2017. 5 Lower-risk patients can be advised of diet and other lifestyle strategies to maintain their status quo while those with lipid disorders often need additional strategies. Younger people gain most if signs and risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are detected early and preventive actions tailored to their overall risk are enacted. As patients progressively age, many develop multiple chronic conditions, with multimorbidity the norm as people progress beyond their middle years. Lipid disorders are commonly managed in general practice but their severity and optimum treatment options may not always be appreciated or updated. 1 The care provided by GPs can extend to families and communities and involves contact across multiple generations, yielding opportunities for unique insights into the family histories and the biopsychosocial dynamics affecting individual patient risk and disease presentations. Guidelines on assessing and managing lipid disorders are constantly evolving as new knowledge and treatments emerge to help health professionals and patients decide the best course of disease management.Īs the point of first contact with the health system, general practitioners (GPs) are uniquely placed to see, assess and prevent disease in the early stages of development.

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