#21 Cardiovascular Disease Part 1 - Cholesterol and Cardiac risk with A/Prof David Colquhoun, Cardiologist

The GP Show

Today I am joined by A/Professor David Colquhoun, Cardiologist, Lipidologist, President of the QLD Heart Foundation, Co-President of the Clinical and Preventative Council of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland School of Medicine. He has dedicated his life to reducing cardiovascular disease, and pleasingly with a strong focus on improving lifestyle factors.

Part 1 - Cholesterol and CVD risk, Lipid "hypothesis" - is it still a hypothesis? Cholesterol physiology, Measuring sub-fractions and receptor ratios - is there a point? Reducing cholesterol LDL and CVD risk with medication statins, ezetemide and lifestyle, Measuring fasting vs non fasting cholesterol, Cholesterol relevance in age - is it a risk or protective factor? Do statins reduce risk regardless of cholesterol?

Part 2 - CVD risk assessment and treatment,

Risk assessment and importance of using overall risk instead of single factors, Calcium score scan use, Risk calculation in those >75 years, Risk assessment and treatment options including mediterranean diet, exercise, mental health, social isolation, even owning dogs versus cats! Fibrates and triglycerides,

Statins and side effects = what's the evidence?

Further reading:

https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/images/uploads/publications/Absolute-CVD-Risk-Full-Guidelines.pdf

CVD risk, low LDL and artherosclerosis regression https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/ham00039.pdf

Fasting vs non-fasting cholesterol testing - https://www.rcpa.edu.au/getattachment/0961c6d1-ec80-4500-8dc0-de516500e05b/Lipid-and-lipoprotein-testing.aspx

Mediterranean Diet and CVD - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26528631

https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/37/39/2999/2414995

http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a1344

Calcium Score Scans - http://www.csanz.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CAC_Position-Statement_Exec-Summary_ratified-4-August-2016.pdf

Evidence and resources for part 2 will be placed in part 2 show notes

Cheers all