Chronic disease management Flashcards
INR + WARFARIN CHART
How would you start the consultation?
- I understand you are… and I can see from your results that your INR is…
- Check patients understanding of INR/warfarin.
- Explain what INR is and risks of high/low.
- Explain why they are on warfarin.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What is warfarin?
Warfarin is an anticoagulant meaning that its job is to stop the blood from clotting too easily.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What is INR?
Stands for international normalised ratio and it provides information about someone’s bloods tendency to clot.
INR + WARFARIN CHART What would you expect the INR to be in... i) a normal, healthy person? ii) someone on warfarin? iii) someone at increased bleeding risk? iv) someone at increased clotting risk?
i) 1
ii) 2–3
iii) >3
iv) <2
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What are the risks of having a high or low INR?
- The higher the INR, the longer it takes the blood to clot and so the increased bleeding risk.
- The lower the INR, the thicker the blood and so there’s an increased clotting risk.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
Why do people take warfarin?
- Commonly used to treat blood clots (DVT/PE/prevent stroke in AF).
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What would you ask about in the Hx of PC?
- How they are feeling?
- Any recent illnesses?
- Any diarrhoea/vomiting?
- Any high INR symptoms?
- Any low INR symptoms?
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What are high INR symptoms?
- Bloody/dark stool or blood in vomit, urine.
- Headache, severe stomach ache.
- Increased bruising.
- Prolonged bleeding after minor cuts/menstrual/gum bleeding.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What are low INR symptoms?
- Stroke (sudden weakness/numbness in limb, visual changes, inability to speak).
- DVT/PE (pain/swelling/redness/heat in limbs, new SOB/chest pain).
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What would you ask about in PMH?
- Liver failure (lack of clotting factors).
- Bleeding disorders (haemophilia, factor 7 deficiency).
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What would you ask about in DH?
- Do you know how many times you are meant to be taking the warfarin?
- How/when do you take it?
- Have you missed any doses? (Double doses?)
- Are you finding it okay or are you struggling with dose?
- Any other medications.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What is important about the administration of warfarin?
- Same time every day.
- No double dosing if missed a dose.
- Taking too much can increase bleeding risk (and INR).
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What other medications are important to enquire about?
- Aspirin, NSAIDs.
- Herbal medication (St John’s wart).
- OCP/HRT.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What would you ask about in SH?
- Enquire about diet, any changes either increase/decrease in vitamin K.
- Binge drinking alcohol (increase INR).
- Smoking (increase INR).
INR + WARFARIN CHART
Explain more specifically why diet is important when taking warfarin.
- Green fruit/veg like broccoli, kale, celery, cucumber, green beans/apples/grapes, pears, avacado contain vitamin K.
- Not necessary to avoid these feeds but important to keep same as vast changes can change the INR.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What advice would you give a patient at decreasing their bleeding risk?
- Avoid activities that can cause bleeding/bruising.
- Brush/shave gently.
- Tell dentist and any other healthcare professional that you take anticoagulation.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
How can you treat an elevated INR?
- Vitamin K.
- Blood components may be given during a transfusion to help stop bleeding.
- Adjust warfarin dose.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
How can you treat a decreased INR?
- LMWH, warfarin.
- Compression stockings if immobile.
INR + WARFARIN CHART
What is the mechanism of action of warfarin and how regularly do patients need their INR checked?
- Vitamin K antagonist (blocks vitamin K epoxide reductase enzyme) leading to decrease in factors 2, 7, 9 + 10.
- Initially, daily blood tests and then maintenance and once a month.
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
What are the HbA1c diagnostic values?
Normal = 42mmol/L or <6.0% Pre-diabetes = 42
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
How would you start the consultation?
- I understand you are… and I can see from your results that your HbA1c is…
- Check when patient diagnosed, T1/T2 and their understanding of their diabetes/HbA1c.
- How well do you think your diabetes is being managed?
- Benefits of lowering HbA1c.
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
What is HbA1c?
- HbA1c shows us the average blood glucose level which is the sugar in your blood over the past 2–3 months as the sugar can stick to some of the cells in the blood.
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
What are the benefits of lowering HbA1c?
- Reduces risk of retinopathy (eye problems), neuropathy (losing sensation in hands/feet) and nephropathy (kidney issues).
- Less likely to suffer from cataracts, heart failure and amputation.
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
What you ask about in Hx of PC?
- How are they feeling?
- Any recent infections/illnesses?
- Any hospital admissions for DKA/hypos?
- Any symptoms of diabetes?
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
What is the importance of recent infections/illnesses?
- D+V/illness can affect the amount of insulin required due to release of glucose.
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
- Polyuria.
- Polydipsia.
- Weight loss.
- Vision changes.
- Tingling in feet.
- Impotence.
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
What would you ask about in PMH?
- Any CVS/cerebrovascular/renal/visual complications?
- Any co-morbidities?
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
What conditions can HbA1c be…
i) falsely raised in?
ii) falsely decreased in?
i) Renal failure, chronic excessive alcohol, B12 deficiency.
ii) Blood loss, sickle cell disease, thalassaemia.
HbA1c DIABETIC CHECK
What would you ask about in DH?
- What diabetes medication do you take?
- How/when you take your medication, any side effects?
- Are you finding this okay or are you struggling with dose?
- If insulin, injecting correctly (site rotation).
- Monitoring glucose levels?
- Any other medications/changes.