GP Flashcards
What is Stage 1 HTN?
Clinical BP 140/90 to 159/99
OR
ABPM 135/85 to 149/94
What is Stage 2 HTN
Clinical BP 160/100 to 180/120
OR
ABPM >150/95
What is Sage 3/Severe HTN
Clinical systolic >180 or clinical diastolic >120
How should a HBPM be conducted correctly?
For each blood pressure recording, 2 consecutive measurements taken 1 min apart with person seated AND blood pressure recorded twice daily ideally in morning and evening AND blood pressure recording continues for at least 4 days (Ideally 7 days)
What are the 2 types of HTN?
- Essential HTN = unknown cause (95%)
2. Secondary HTN = known cause (5%)
What can secondary HTN be caused by?
- Renal –> GN, PCKD, renovascular (atheromatous due to smoking or PVD in older)
- Endocrine –> Conns, Cushing’s, Phaeochromocytoma, Actomeglay
- Coarctation of aorta
- pregnancy
- Steroids
- Pill
Name 4 risk factors for HTN
- Obesity
- Increasing age
- Lack of exercise
- Family History of HTN or CAD
- Metabolic Syndorme –> DM
- Black ancestry
- Increase alcohol intake
Name 3 symptoms of HTN
- Usually asymptomatic
- Headaches
- Visual changes –> decreased acuity, floaters
- Dyspnoea
- Chest pain
- Nose bleeds or subconjunctival haemorrhages
Name 5 first line investigations
- Lipids
- Urinalysis
- FBC –> Hb
- U&Es
- LFTs
- TSH
- HbA1c
- ABPM/HBPM
- QRISK score
- ECG
What is the QRISK score?
Risk of having a cardiovascular event within the next 10 years
What is involved in calculating someone’s QRISK?
o Age o Sex o Ethnicity o Smoking status o Diabetes status o Angina/heart attack in 1st degree relative <60 o CKD stage 3, 4 or 5 o AF o Blood pressure treatment o Migraine o Rheumatoid arthritis o SLE o Severe mental illness o Atypical antipsychotic medication o Corticosteroids o Erectile dysfunction o Cholesterol:HDL ratio o Systolic BP and a standard deviation of it o BMI
What are the outcomes of QRISK scores?
<10% = low risk 10-15% = moderate risk (start statin and modify lifestyle) >20% = high risk
What lifestyle modifications would you suggest for someone with HTN?
- Reduce salt and fat intake
- Weight loss
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Smoking cessation
- Increase exercise
What is the target BP for adults with HTN <80 years old?
<140/90
What is the target BP for adults with HTN >80 years old?
<150/90
What is the target BP for adults with HTN who have Diabetes?
<135/85
<130/80 if nephropathy or retinopathy
What is the pharmacological treatment of those aged <55 and not black who have HTN?
- ACEi or ARB
- CCB
- thiazide like diuretic
- Spirolactone (K+ < 4.5) or Alpha or Beta Blocker (K+ >4.5)
What is the pharmacological treatment of those aged >55 or black who have HTN?
- CCB
- ACEi or ARB
- thiazide like diuretic
- Spirolactone (K+ < 4.5) or Alpha or Beta Blocker (K+ >4.5)
What is the pharmacological treatment of those with diabetes who have HTN?
- ACEi or ARB
- CCB
- thiazide like diuretic
- Spirolactone (K+ < 4.5) or Alpha or Beta Blocker (K+ >4.5)
Name 3 ACEi that can be used in the treatment of HTN
- Ramipril
- Enalapril
- Perindopril
Give 3 potential side effects of ACEi
- Cough (+ rash) –> due to increased kinin
- Hypotension –> dizziness
- AKI
- Arrhythmias due to Hyperkalaemia
- Erectile dysfunction
How do ACEi work?
Suppressing ACE which prevents angiotensin I converting to angiotensin II which decreases pressure in heart and therefore workload of heart
Increase Bradykinin levels which causes vasodilation
What must you monitor in a patients taking ACEi?
Serum Na+ and K+, BP and renal function (U&Es and eGFR)
Name 3 ARBs that can be used in the treatment of HTN
- Candesartan
- Valsartan
- Losartan
Name 3 possible side effects of ARBs
- Postural hypotension
- Headache
- Diarrhoea
- Renal impairment
Name 3 CCBs that can be used to treat HTN and what channels do they act on?
- Amlodipine
- Felodipine
- Verapamil
- Nifedipine
- Diltizem
Act of L-type Ca2+ channels
Give 3 potential side effects of CCBs
- Headache
- Oedema
- Dizziness and drowsiness
- ED
Name 2 thiazide diuretics that could be used to treat HTN
- Bendroflumethiazide
2. Indapamide
Give 3 possible side effects of thiazide diuretics
- ED
- Electrolyte disturbances
- Hyperuricaemia –> gout
What is the mechanism of action of thiazide like diuretics?
Inhibits the sodium chloride transporter at the distal portion of the ascending limb and the first part of the distal tubule
This increases water clearance and the excretion of sodium and chloride through the renal tubular epithelium
Name 3 beta blockers that can be used in the treatment of HTN
- Atenolol
- Propranolol
- Bisoprolol
Give 3 potential side effects of beta blockers
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Bradycardia
- Hypotension
- ED
- Cold peripheries
- Bronchospasm
What is the mechanism of action of beta blockers?
Block the release of adrenaline and noradenaline –> slowing heart rate and reducing force of the heart
What should you monitor in a patient taking beta blockers?
Heart rate and BP
Define Cardiac Failure
A complex clinical syndrome of signs/symptoms that suggest the efficiency of the heart as a pump is impaired. The heart is unable to deliver blood at a rate that meets the metabolic demands of the body
What are the 3 main types of cardiac failure and what causes them?
- LVSD - often due to IHD
- RVSD - often secondary to LVSD
- Diastolic HF
What is the ejection fraction?
Compares the amount of blood in the heart and amount of blood pumped out
- The percentage helps describer how well the heart is pumping blood to the body
What is considered heart failure with reduced ejection fraction?
Ejection fraction <40%
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of cardiac failure
When the heart fails, compensatory mechanisms attempt to maintain CO. AS HF progresses, these mechanisms are exhausted and become pathophysiological
- Sympathetic activation
- RAAS activation
- Natriuretic peptide release
- Ventricular hypertrophy
Give 5 risk factors for developing heart failure
- History of MI and Coronary Artery Disease
- DM
- Dyslipidaemia (increased LDL)
- Old age
- Male sex
HTN - Valvular heart disease
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
Name 3 causes of Heart failure
- Pump failure –> Heart muscle disease (IHD), restricted filling (constrictive pericarditis), anti-arrhythmic drugs
- Excessive preload –> mitral regurgitation or fluid overload
- Chronic excessive after load –> aortic stenosis, HTN
What are the 3 cardinal symptoms of cardiac failure?
- SOB
- Fatigue
- Peripheral oedema
Also - PND
- Orthopnoea
Give 3 signs of cardiac failure
- Tachycardia
- Raised JVP
- Displaced apex beat
- Added heart sounds (S3, gallop rhythm)
What investigations may you want to do to determine whether someone has cardiac failure?
- BNP levels
- CXR
- Echo
- ECG
What is pro BNP?
Inactive peptide (hormone) that is released when the walls of the heart are stretched or there is pressure overload on the heart - Acts on the kidneys to cause fluid and sodium loss in the urine
How is pro BNP measured?
<400pg/ml = normal, HF less likely >400 = Echo in 6 weeks >2000 = Echo within 2 weeks
Why may someone have a increased proBNP?
- > 70 years old
- Left ventricular hyeprtrophy
- Isachamia
- Tachycardia
- Renal dysfunction (eGFR <60)
- COPD
- DM
- Cirrhosis of liver
Why may someone have a decreased proBNP?
- Obesity
- African Caribbean heritage
- Drugs –> diuretics, BB, ACEi/ARB, MRA
What is eGFR?
Estimated glomerular filtration rate = measure of how well your kidneys are working as a filter
- Low GFR = kidneys filtering less
What are the stages of CKD?
Stage 1 = >90 ml/min Stage 2 (mild) = 60-89 ml/min Stage 3a (mild-moderate) = 45-59 ml/min Stage 3b (moderate-severe) = 30-44 ml/min Stage 4 (severe) = 15-29 ml/min Stage 5 (kidney failure) = <15 ml/min
What might you see on a CXR of someone with cardiac failure?
ABCDE A --> Bat wing alveolar oedema B --> Kerley B lines C --> Cardiomegaly D --> Dilated prominent upper lobe vessels E --> PLeural effusions
Why is an ECHO done in someone with suspected heart failure?
It will show whether there is preserved or reduced ejection fraction
Briefly describer the NYHA classification for cardiac failure?
Class 1 = no limitation, asymptomatic
Class 2 = slight limitation, mild HF
Class 3 = marked limitation, moderate HF
Class 4 = inability to carry out physical activity without discomfort, severe HF
Describe the management of HF
- Lifestyle modification
- Main pharmacological benefits are from vasodilator therapy not LV stimulants
- 1st line = ACEi, BB
- 2nd line = 3. ARB, Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist (MRA/aldosterone antagonists),
- Diuretics for symptom relief
- Nitrates and NEP inhibitors can be used too
- Surgery –> valve replacement and LV remodelling
How would heart failure with reduced ejection fraction be treated pharmacologically?
ACEi, BB, ARB, Spirolactone, diuretics
How would heart failure with preserved ejection fraction be treated pharmacologically?
Diuretics
What is the mechanism of action of a loop diuretic?
Reversibly inhibit the Na+/2Cl-/K+ co-transporter in the thick ascending Loop of Henle where one third of sodium is reabsorbed
Name 2 loop diuretics
- Furosemide
2. Bumetanide
What is the mechanism of action of a MRA?
MRA = Aldosterone antagonist
Act at the cortical collecting duct to reduce the absorption of sodium and water and increase the excretion of Hydrogen and potassium
Give an example of an aldosterone antagonist
Spirolactone
What must you monitor in a patients taking MRAs?
Serum Na+ and K+, BP and renal function (U&Es and eGFR)
What is the prognosis of cardiac failure?
5 year mortality = 75%
Give examples of primary prevention methods for cardiac failure?
- Healthy lifestyle
- Reducing alcohol intake
- Smoking cessation
- QRISK
- Statins
- Correct aggravating factors –> e.g. AF, HTN, DM
Give examples of secondary prevention methods for cardiac failure
- Regularly checking BP
2. Regularly checking blood cholesterol
Give examples of tertiary prevention methods for cardiac failure
- Exercise based cardiac rehabilitation
- Revascularisation procedures –> PCI, CABG
- Implantable defibrillators
What is the NICE traffic light system used for in paediatrics?
It is clinical risk score designed to assist with the assessment and management of febrile children under 5 years old
What are the 5 main categories that are assessed the NICE traffic light system?
- Colour - skin, tongue, lips
- Activity - response, smile, crying etc.
- Respiratory
- Circulation and hydration
- Other - temperature, rigours, swelling, rash, neck stiffness, seizures etc.
How would you manage a child with a green score on the NICE traffic light risk assessment?
You would manage them at home + safety net
Encourage regular fluids, observe for dehydration, monitor for rash, and regularly review the child. Tell the parents to contact a medical professional if parental concern increases
How would you manage a child with a amber score on the NICE traffic light risk assessment?
You could refer the child to a paediatric or specialist for further investigation or manage them at home and safety net
How would you manage a child with a red score on the NICE traffic light risk assessment?
Urgent referral to a hospital for specialist assessment
What is the FeverPAIN Criteria?
Used to determine if a tonsillitis illness is viral or bacterial and whether antibiotics should be prescribed
What is assessed in the FeverPAIN Criteria?
- Fever (during past 24hrs)
- Purulence (pus on tonsils)
- Attended rapidly (within 3 days after symptom onset)
- Severely inflamed tonsils
- No cough or coryza (inflammation fo mucus membranes in the nose)
Each scores 1 point = higher score suggests more severe symptoms and likely bacterial (strep)
How would you manage a child with a score of 0-1 on the FeverPAIN criteria?
13-18% likelihood of isolating streptococcus –> NO antibiotics
How would you manage a child with a score of 2-3 on the FeverPAIN criteria?
34-40% likelihood of isolating streptococcus –> Delayed prescription of Abx if not better
How would you manage a child with a score of 4-5 on the FeverPAIN criteria?
62-65% likelihood of isolating streptococcus –> give Antibiotics
What is safety netting?
- Verbal and/or written advice about warning signs/symptoms with a plan of action should these be noticed
- Arrange follow-up at a specific time and place
- Liaising with other health care professionals to ensure direct access should the child require it
Advice needs to be clear and easy to follow
Give 3 signs of dehydration in children
- Sunken fontanelle
- Dry mouth
- Sunken eyes
- Absence of tears
- Poor overall appearance
Give 3 common causes of pyrexia in children
- URTI
- Tonsilitis
- Otitis media
- UTI
- Pneumonia
- Measles
Give 3 less common causes of pyrexia in children
- Meningitis
- Septicaemia
- Epiglottitis
- Malignancy
- Kawasaki Disease
- TB
Name 3 notifiable disease that you may see in paediatrics
- Meningitis
- Diphtheria
- Measles
- Mumps
- Meningococcal septicaemia
- Rubella
- Smallpox
- Scarlet fever
- Tetanus
- Whooping cough
What vaccinations should a child have at 8 weeks?
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP), Polio (IPV), Haemophilius influenza (HibB), Hep B (6 in 1)
- Men B
- Rotavirus
What vaccinations should a child have at 12 weeks?
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP), Polio (IPV), Haemophilus influenza (HibB), Hep B = 6 in 1
- PCV
- Rotavirus
What vaccinations should a child have at 16 weeks?
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP), Polio (IPV), Haemophilus influenza (Hib), Hep B = 6 in 1
- Men B
What vaccinations should a child have at 1 year?
- Haemophilus influenza (HibB)
- Men B and C
- Pneumococcal (PCV)
- MMR
What vaccinations should a child have at 2-6 years?
Influenza vaccine
What vaccinations should a child have at 3 years 4 months?
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP)
- Polio (IPV)
- MMR
What vaccinations should a child have at 12-13 years old?
HPV
What vaccinations should a child have at 14 years?
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Polio (IPV)
- Men ACWY (up to age 25)
Name 3 groups of people who are less likely to have vaccines?
- Homeless
- Refugees/asylum seekers
- Children in care
Define intellectual disability
Term used when there are limits to a person’s ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life
Define Dementia
Chronic decline in memory
Affects memory and is typically caused by anatomic changes in the brain, has slow onset and is generally irreversible
Name 4 risk factors for developing dementia
- Increasing age
- Cognitive impairments
- Learning disabilities
- Family History
- Downs syndrome
- CVD risk factors –> DM, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, HTN
- Parkinson’s
- Alcohol Abuse
What are the 3 main aspects of dementia?
- Cognitive impairment
- Behavioural and psychological symptoms
- Difficulties with ADLs
Give 3 common presenting symptoms of dementia
- Short term memory loss - amnesia
- Communication problems - aphasia
- Difficulty with daily tasks - apraxia
- Anxious
- Agnosia - difficulty recognising faces and places
Give 4 types of dementia
- Alzheimers
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy bodies
- Fronto-temporal
Give 2 histological signs of Alzheimers
- Plagues of B-amyloid aggregation
2. Neuronal reduction
Give the main features of Alzheimers
- Early episodic memory impairment
2. Gradual deterioration
Describe the treatment for Alzheimer’s
Anticholinesterase inhibitors
- Donepezil
- Rivastigmine
What symptoms might you see in someone with vascular dementia?
- Gait and attention problems
- Personality changes
- Focal neurological signs
- More sudden onset than AD
With what type of dementia would you associate TIA’s?
Vascular dementia
- Also associated with HTN
What symptoms might you see in someone with Lewy body Dementia?
- Repeated falls
- Transient LOC
- Autonomic dysfunction
- Hallucinations
What disease is often associated Lewy body dementia?
Parkinson’s Disease
What symptoms might you see in someone with Fronts-temporal dementia?
- Personality change
- Behavioural disturbances
- Memory and perception may be relatively preserved
Which disease is fronto-temporal dementia often associated with?
MND
Name 3 dementia screening tools that can be used in primary care
- 6-CIT (out of 28, >8 = significant, higher = worse)
- MMSE (out of 30, <18 = some form of cognitive impairment, lower = worse)
- GP-COG
What investigations might you do in a ‘confusion screen’?
- Vital signs
- Bloods
- FBC –> infection, anaemia, malignancy
- U&E –> hypo/hyper Na+
- LFT –> liver failure with encephalopathy
- Coagulation/INR –> intracranial bleeding
- TFTs –> hypo/hyper thyroidism
- Calcium –> hyper/hypo Ca
- B12/folate/haematinics –> deficiency
- Glucose/HbA1c –> hypo/hyperglcyaemia
- Blood cultures
- Inflammatory markers
- Drug levels –> toxicity of digoxin, lithium or alcohol
- Urine tests = MCS MSU
- Sputum culture
- CXR –> rule out pneumonia
What are specialist investigations you may do if you suspect someone has dementia?
- MRI/CT head –> rule out intracranial pathology
- ECG –> arrhythmias
- EEG –> if evidence of any seizures
- LP –> if meningism
- Check anticholinergic burden
Give 4 differential diagnoses for dementia
- Normal age related memory changes
- Delirium
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Depression
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Sensory deficits
Describe the management of dementia
- Refer for formal diagnosis
- Open and sensitive discussion with patient and family
- Encourage use of memory aids –> notebooks, medication dispensers
- Dementia drugs
- Refer to services –> admiral nurses and charities
Where would you refer someone who you suspect has dementia?
- Memory clinic
2. Old age psychiatrist
Name 3 services available for dementia sufferers
- Dementia UK and Dementia Friends
- Alzheimers society Sheffield
- Admiral nurses
- Age UK
- Memory Clinic
Define Delirium
Acute, fluctuating syndrome of disturbed consciousness, attention, cognition and perception
Affects mainly attention and is typically caused by acute illness or drug toxicity and is often reversible = disturbance of consciousness with reduced ability to focus, sustain or shift attention
What are the types of delirium?
- Hyperactive –> marked by increased motor activity, agitations, hallucinations, inappropriate behaviour and vigilance
- Hypoactive –> marked by lethargy with a decrease in motor activity (poorer prognosis)
Give 4 signs of delirium
- Easily distracted
- Less aware of where they are or what time it is (Disorientation)
- Suddenly not be able to do something as well as normal
- Unable to speak clearly or follow a conversation
- Sudden mood swings
- Have hallucinations – seeing or hearing things, often frightening
- Have delusions or become paranoid
Name 4 possible causes of delirium
PINCH ME
- Pain
- Infection
- Nutrition
- Constipation
- Hydration
- Medications/metabolic
- Environment