General practice · Explanation & counselling

Should I take a statin

Medium

10 min station · 2 min reading · Recommended for Curtin Year 5 students

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F V W T

2 min reading · 10 min station · reminders at 2 min

Instructions

You are a medical student on placement in general practice. Mark Dunstan, 55, is here for his health check results. They are below.

  1. Take a focused history

  2. Explain the results and your management plan to the patient

Fasting lipids and cardiovascular risk calculation

Fasting lipids and cardiovascular risk calculation
ItemValueReference range
Total cholesterol6.4 mmol/L<5.5 mmol/L
LDL cholesterol4.3 mmol/L<2.0 mmol/L (high risk)
HDL cholesterol1.0 mmol/L>1.0 mmol/L
Triglycerides2.2 mmol/L<2.0 mmol/L
Australian CVD risk calculator (2023)5-year risk 14 percent - high risk category (10 percent or above)Low <5%; intermediate 5-9%; high 10% or above

Inputs: male, 55, smoker, systolic 140, total cholesterol 6.4, HDL 1.0, no diabetes, no CVD, postcode-based socioeconomic adjustment applied.

Other bloods

Other bloods
ItemValueReference range
HbA1c5.7 percent<6.0 percent (no diabetes)
Fasting glucose5.6 mmol/L3.5-6.0 mmol/L
eGFR and urine ACR88 mL/min; ACR 1.0 mg/mmol>60; <2.5
ALT, TSH, CK30 U/L; 1.8 mIU/L; 120 U/L<40; 0.4-4.0; <200

No diabetes, no renal, thyroid or liver contributor; baseline creatine kinase normal.

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Investigations

Examination

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