cardiovascular disease are on the rise .
High blood pressure and high cholesterol have been identified as leading risk factors that drive mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease . These risk factors are high impact , but also highly modifiable . Prevention of CVD in people with hypertension requires optimal control of both blood pressure and cholesterol . Despite this , both risk factors are underdiagnosed and undertreated , and there is substantial variation across the country .
We are working closely with our three Integrated Care Systems ( ICSs ) in West Yorkshire , Humber and North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire , as well as with our local clinical commissioning groups ( CCG ) and primary care networks ( PCN ). We aim to take a holistic approach to CVD prevention as part of the AHSN Network ’ s national Lipid Management and Familial Hypercholesterolaemia and Blood Pressure ( BP ) Optimisation programmes .
The aim of the BP Optimisation programme is to increase detection and optimise treatment of those with hypertension , while the Lipid Management and Familial Hypercholesterolaemia programme seeks to improve the management of cholesterol , increase the detection of those with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia ( a genetic disorder ) and optimise the use of all medicines for patients on the cholesterol management pathway . This could include the use of medications including statins , high intensity statins , ezetimibe , bempedoic acid and inclisiran within primary care , and PCSK9 inhibitors within secondary care , as clinically appropriate .
Our collaborative work to actively engage with healthcare professionals across primary and secondary care within all three ICSs has already started to have a positive impact for patients at a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke :
• We have identified 165,000 patients that have benefited from being prescribed Ezetimibe , a medication that can help keep their high cholesterol under control .
• We have achieved 99.8 % target of high intensity statin prescriptions as a proportion of all statin prescriptions .
• 727 patients are now currently taking PCSK9i inhibitors , a type of oral medication that helps to lower blood glucose ( sugar ) levels in diabetic patients .
Our work to tackle CVD
165k patients benefited
727 patients now taking PCSK9i inhibitors from being prescribed Ezetimibe
to lower their blood glucose levels
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