Cardiovascular conditions Flashcards
What are the non modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis?
Age
Gender (male)
family history of premature coronary heart disease
premature menopause
What are the modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis?
Smoking Diabetes mellitus Hypertension Obesity physical inactivity Raised LDL and reduced HDL
What non-atherosclerotic causes of ACS are there in younger patients?
Coronary emboli: infected cardiac valve
Coronary occlusion secondary to vasculitis, coronary artery spasm, cocaine use, congenital coronary anomalies, coronary trauma
How do NSTE-ACS present?
Prolonged anginal pain at rest (>20 mins)
New onset angina with limitation of daily activities
Destabalisation of previously stable angina
Post MI infarction angina
Which patients may not present with chest pain in ACS?
Elderly patients and patients with diabetes
What are the symptoms of ACS?
Chest pain lasting longer than 15 minutes
Chest pain with nausea, vomiting, sweating and/or breathlessness
New onset chest pain or abrupt deterioration in stable angina
Can the response to GTN be used in diagnosing ACS?
No
What are the gastrointestinal differential diagnosis for ACS symtoms?
Oesophageal spasm Oesophagitis GORD Acute gastritis Cholecystitis Acute pancreatitis
What are the cardiovascular differential diagnosis for ACS symptoms?
Acute pericarditis
Myocarditis
Aortic stenosis
Aortic dissection
What are the respiratory differential diagnosis for ACS symptoms?
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Pulmonary embolism
When are troponins tested for?
6 and 12 hours after the onset of pain
What investigations should we do for ACS?
12 lead ECG Cardiac enzymes FBC Blood glucose Echocardiography Chest Xray Coronary angiography
What is the GRACE risk score?
Global registry of acute cardiac events risk score. It is recommended by NICE
What is the immediate management for suspected ACS
Romance: Reassurance Oxygen Morphine Aspirin Nitrates Clopidogrel ECG
After stabilisation what secondary risk reduction measures should be implemented?
Stopping smoking Continued aspirin therapy Statins ACE inhibitors Beta-blockers
What is the difference between Stable and Unstable angina?
Stable angina is when the pain is precipitated by predictable factors - usually exercise
Unstable angina: angina occurs at any time and should be considered and managed as a form of acute coronary syndrome
How can we differentiate angina from acute pericarditis?
Acute pericarditis tends to be more constant pain which is aggravated by inspiration, lying flat, swallowing and movement
Anginal pain is?
Constricting discomfort in the front of the chest, neck, shoulders, jaw or arms
Precipitated by physical exertion
Relieved by rest or GTN in about 5 minutes
When should urgent hospital assessment and admission be arranged for people with angina symptoms?
If the symptoms suggest possible ACS:
Pain at rest
Pain on minimal exertion
Angina that is progressing rapidly despite increasing medical treatment
How many doses of GTM should a person experiencing an angina attack take before calling 999
- one every 5 minutes for 15 minutes.
If the pain is intensifying or the person is unwell 999 should be called earlier.
What are the first line pharmacological treatments for angina?
Beta-blocker/calcium channel blocker.
If the symptoms are not adequately controlled consider switching to the other option, or using a combination of the two.
Should aspirin be started in patients with angina?
Yes. Clopidogrel is an alternative for those who cannot take aspirin.
When is coronary revascularisation required?
In high risk patients and those who have failure to be controlled by medical therapy
How many patients with angina with suffer an MI within a year of diagnosis?
1 in 10
What is the most common cause of death in the UK?
Coronary heart disease. It is responsible for he deaths of 1 in 5 men and 1 in 6 women.
Which ethnic groups are at higher risk (40-60% higher) of CHD-related mortality
South Asians
What features can be seen on an ECG during/after an MI?
Features may initially be normal but abnormalities include new ST segment elevation; initially peaked T waves and then T-wave inversion; new Q waves; new conduction defects.
Does a normal resting 12-lead ECG exclude an ACS
No
What is the characteristic pulse in Atrial Fibrillation
irregularly irregular