Chronic disease management Flashcards

1
Q

what is INR?

A

international normalised ratio

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

how is INR checked?

A

blood test

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

how often is INR checked?

A

variable
usually every 4 weeks if stable
can be everyday of very unstable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

why do we check INR?

A

check the effect of warfarin, check dosage of warfarin, check bleeding risk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is the ideally range of INR when on warfarin?

A

2-3 (can vary based on patient)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

why is it important to keep INR in range?

A

narrow therapeutic range

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what does it mean if INR is >3?

A

increased risk of bleeding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what does it mean if INR is <2?

A

increased risk of clotting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

why might someone be on warfarin?

A

mechanical heart valve, AF, clotting disorder, post surgical, post DVT, post MI or stroke

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

why might INR be low?

A

increased vit K intake
bad adherence to warfarin, reduced intake
soya protein intake
vitamins
hyperlipidaemia
hypothyroidism
nephrotic syndrome
drugs - rifampicin (TB treatment)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

why might INR be high?

A

hyperthyroidism
low vitamin K intake
poor nutrition
diarrhoea (malabsorption of vit K)
CHF
cancer
liver disease
connective tissue disorders
fever
increase warfarin consumption
fenugreek / camomile
drug interactions - antibiotics, antifungals, antidepressants, aspirin (anticoagulants), NSAIDs, paracetamol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what past medical history should you ask about in particular from someone on warfarin?

A

Liver failure (lack of clotting factors).
Bleeding disorders (haemophilia, factor 7 deficiency).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

why do you need to ask a patient on warfarin about their diet?

A

Vit K in their diet e.g. green leaf veg, olive oil
foods that effect warfarin e.g. grapefruit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

why do you need to know why someone is on warfarin?

A

this affects the dose and the duration of the treatment
e.g. DVT treatment is only 13 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

why do you need to know how long someone has been taking warfarin?

A

this can affect how stable their INR is and how often they should be getting it checked

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

why do you need to know what side affects the patient is having for warfarin?

A

it can affect their adherence as they might want to avoid the side effects

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

why do you need to know their alcohol in take?

A

binge drinking can affect INR, regular drinking doesn’t have an effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what sort of things can effect adherance?

A

memory, confusing dosing, unaware of the risks, side effects of drug, cost of prescriptions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what are the common side effects of warfarin?

A

heavy bleeding - heavy menstrual periods
red urine
black stools
abdominal pain
joint pain
swelling
headaches
coughing up blood
vomiting blood or coffee ground vomit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what can we do if INR is low?

A

give advice on adherence,
reducing vitamin k intake,
treat other conditions that may affect INR,
increase dose of warfarin (only if not other factors seem to be contributing)
LMWH
compression stockings if immobile

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what are low INR symptoms?

A

Sudden weakness/numbness/tingling in any limb, visual changes, inability to speak (stroke symptoms).
New pain, swelling, redness, heat in body parts or new SOB or chest pain (DVT/PE symptoms).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what are high INR symptoms?

A

Headache, severe stomach ache.
Increased bruising.
Prolonged bleeding after minor cuts/menstrual bleeding/gum bleeding.
Blood in urine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what can we do if INR is high?

A

advice on understanding dosing and not having too high of a dose,
treat other diseases contributing,
drug interaction information and advice,
take off drugs that interact,
vitamin k
blood transfusion
decrease dose of warfarin (only if no other factors are contributing)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what advice might you be asked to give if someones INR is too high?

A

Decreasing risk of bleeding;
Avoid activities that can cause bleeding/bruising.
Brush/shave gently.
Tell dentist and any other HCP that you take anticoagulants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

what is HbA1c?

A

glycated haemoglobin, haemoglobin bound to sugar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

what does HbA1c level tell us?

A

gives us a picture of blood sugar levels over the past 8-12 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

what are the target ranges for HbA1c?

A

<42 = normal, 42-47 = pre-diabetes, >48 = diabetes (target range for someone with diabetes is as close to 48 as possible)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

how are HbA1c levels brought down?

A

health diet, good adherence to drugs loosing weight, keeping active

29
Q

what affect does lowering HbA1c levels have on someone with diabetes?

A

improvement by 1% = 25% reduction microvascular complication and reduces the likelihood of amputation due to PVD by 43%

30
Q

what sort of questions do you need to ask someone with a high HbA1c level?

A

affect on life
how is their diet
are they exercising
do they smoke (increases risk fo vascular disease)
alcohol intake
compliance to drugs
any side effects of drugs
any symptoms they are feeling

31
Q

what sort of symptoms could someone with a high HbA1c level present with?

A

fatigue, polyuria, polydipsia, blurred vision, loosing weight, burning/tingling/numbness in limbs

32
Q

what are the complications of badly controlled diabetes?

A

macrovascular - CAD, PAD, stroke
microvascular - retinopathy, nephropathy (test urine for macroalbumaemia then treated with antihypertensives), neuropathy (foot ulcers and numbness in leg)

33
Q

what is the treatment pathway for T2DM?

A

lifestyle advice, metformin, sulfonureas, insulin

34
Q

what is peak flow measuring?

A

a measure of how quickly you can blow air out of your lungs

35
Q

how is peak flow measured?

A

blow out hard into peak flow device

36
Q

what is a normal peak flow?

A

varies with height, gender, age, weight etc

37
Q

what would suggest badly controlled asthma on peak flow?

A

significant difference between results (diurnal variation)

38
Q

what does a low peak flow suggest?

A

narrowing of the airways

39
Q

what could a low peak flow suggest?

A

asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, foreign body inhalation, tumour

40
Q

what does spirometry do?

A

Diagnose and monitor certain lung diseases – measure how much breath out in one forced breath, and maximal amount of air you can blow out

41
Q

what do the results of spirometry show?

A

FEV1: Depends on age, sex, height, mass, ethnicity.
Obstructive: FEV1/FVC ratio = <70%
Restrictive: FEV1/FVC ratio = NORMAL

42
Q

what presenting complaint questions should you ask a peak flow / spirometry patient?

A

how are you feeling today?
has your condition got worse / better?
have you had any recent illnesses?
have you been short of breath at all?
has your wheeze been getting worse?
is this affecting you’re ADL?
any symptoms during the night?
how often are you using your blue inhaler?

43
Q

what questions should you ask in the drug history of a peak flow / spirometry patient?

A

what medications do you use?
when do you use your medications / how often
what other medications are you taking (ask about b eta blockers specifically)
what is your inhaler technique?
adherence to medications

44
Q

what social history questions should you ask a peak flow / spirometry patient?

A

any new pets?
any recent foreign travel?
housing situation (damp?)
hayfever?
occupation
smoking
alcohol
affect on daily life activities

45
Q

what advice might you be asked to give to a peak flow / spirometry patient?

A

stop smoking
avoid tiggers
get flu vaccine
exercise / loose weight
support group

46
Q

what is the treatment pathway for asthma?

A

SABA
SABA + ICS
SABA + ICS + LTRA
SABA + ICS + LABA +/- LTRA

47
Q

how is COPD treated?

A

SABA, ICS, LAMA + LABA combined therapy
or combination if indicated

48
Q

what is CRP?

A

non-specific marker of inflammation.
produced by liver
increases n the presence of inflammation

49
Q

which disease is CRP routinely monitored in?

A

Rheumatoid arthritis
juvenille arthritis
seronegative arthritis
ankalosing spondylitis
reactive arthritis
psoriatic arthritis
crohn’s
vascultitis
polyarthritis nodosa
pancreatitis

50
Q

what disease is CRP used for diagnosis and monitoring of infection?

A

infective endocarditis
abcess post operation infection
response to antibiotics

51
Q

what would cause a raised CRP?

A

infection, burns. chronic inflammation, MI, IBD, cancers

52
Q

what is ESR?

A

measure of RBC sedimentation rate.
Measures the amount of time it take for RBCs to sink to the bottom of a test tube
in inflammation, fibrinogen increase causes RBCs to stick together and sink quicker
rises and falls slowly

53
Q

what questions should be asked in an inflammatory marker consultation?

A

how are you feeling today?
any recent infections?
how well controlled is your condition?
what medication are you on?
do you always take your medication correctly?
any issues with medication?
any other medications?
joint pain?
recent travel?
smoking status?
alcohol status?
how condition is impacting life

54
Q

what advice may you have to give in the inflammatory marker consultation?

A

smoking cessation
control of condition / disease mangement

55
Q

what medications are people with rheumatoid arthritis commonly on?

A

methotrexate (or other DMARD)
NSAIDs

56
Q

what medications are people with crohn’s disease commonly on?

A

sulfasalazine (AMINOSALICYLATES (5-ASAs)
steroids
NSAIDS

57
Q

what does a high albumin suggest?

A

malnutrition, kidney or liver disease

58
Q

what does low albumin show?

A

severe infection, dehydration, chronic inflammation, hepatitis

59
Q

what does high conjugated billirubin show?

A

liver or bile duct problem

60
Q

what does high unconjugated billirubin show?

A

gilberts, haemolytic anaemia (pre-hepatic jaundice)

61
Q

what would cause liver enzymes to be high?

A

chronic alcohol excess
obesity (especially in males)
smoking (females)
reaction to drugs

62
Q

what does a high ALP suggest?

A

bile duct obstruction
osteoblast activity (paget’s, osteomalacia, vitamin D deficiency)

63
Q

what does a high GGT suggest?

A

alcohol or dug excess

64
Q

what does a high AST or ALT indicate?

A

liver damage due to toxins, drugs, viruses

65
Q

what does it suggest if GGT is raised aswell as ALP?

A

more likely to be a hepatic problem than a bone problem

66
Q

what does it suggest if the AST:ALT ratio is high?

A

alcoholic hepatitis or acute hepatitis

67
Q

what questions should be asked in a LFT consultation?

A

how are you feeling today?
any recent infections?
any PMH of gallstones, Crohn’s, UC, surgery etc.
how well controlled is their condition
medications for condition
any other medication
adherence
travel
smoking
alcohol
drugs
impact on life

68
Q

what advice might you have to give on a LFT history?

A

smoking / alcohol / drug cessation
diet advice
management of condition