All articles by Dr Alan Begg
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Implementing guidelinesCardiac arrhythmia: risk factors for heart disease need to be addressed
Dr Alan Begg summarises recommendations in SIGN’s latest guidance on cardiac arrhythmias that are relevant to primary care and highlights some major advances in treatment
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Implementing guidelines
Stable angina: how does the SIGN guideline compare with NICE?
Dr Alan Begg compares SIGN and NICE recommendations on the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of stable angina
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Implementing guidelines
Cardiac rehabilitation should be individualised to meet patient needs
Dr Alan Begg explores updated SIGN recommendations on cardiac rehabilitation and strategies that encourage patient engagement in lifestyle risk factor management, psychosocial wellbeing, and behaviour change.
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Implementing guidelines
Estimating cardiovascular risk is key to preventing disease
Dr Alan Begg summarises new SIGN guidance and explains why lifestyle change is an essential aspect of cardiovascular risk reduction
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Top tips
Top tips: venous thromboembolism
Dr Alan Begg discusses the diagnosis, assessment, and management of thromboembolic disease in primary care
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Differential diagnoses
Chest pain: what’s the diagnosis?
Dr Alan Begg considers the possible diagnoses of a patient presenting with chest pain: is it angina, indigestion, a heart attack, or a PE?
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Implementing guidelines
SIGN updates guidance on diagnosis and management of ACS
Dr Alan Begg summarises SIGN recommendations for the immediate assessment, management, and discharge arrangements for people with acute coronary syndrome
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Implementing guidelines
SIGN updates advice on drug therapy in chronic heart failure
Dr Alan Begg explores evidence-based guidance from SIGN on diagnosis, lifestyle modification, and interventions in chronic heart failure
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NICE quality standard article
Adults with stable CHF should be reviewed every 6 months
Dr Alan Begg explores how NICE’s modified quality standard on chronic heart failure in adults will address priority aspects of care and management
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Top tips
Top tips: hypertension
Dr Alan Begg shares some key points for diagnosing and managing hypertension in primary care
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Implementing guidelines
Low cost, high intensity statins recommended for lipid modification
Dr Alan Begg describes amendments to the recently updated NICE key therapeutic topics for lipid-modifying drugs, with key changes relating to statin use
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Hot topic
What can we do to make health checks more worthwhile?
Dr Alan Begg considers some current evidence about cardiovascular health screening and how newer drugs and risk assessment tools might help to improve outcomes
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Personal view
Lifetime CVD risk calculator invites earlier interventions
Dr Alan Begg summarises key aspects of JBS3 that are relevant to primary care and considers some implications for clinical practice
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Personal view
Early treatment for PAD can address risks and outcomes
Prompt diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease can optimisepain-free mobility and avoid future amputations, says Dr Alan Begg
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Personal view
Prompt treatment is crucial in management of acute STEMI
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI improves outcomes if it can be delivered in time, says Dr Alan Begg
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Personal view
SIGN should review its guidance on anticoagulants
Dr Alan Begg revisits the SIGN antithrombotics guideline and highlights new evidence on novel oral anticoagulant agents
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Personal view
Tighter targets for blood pressure are needed
Dr Alan Begg discusses the proposed changes to the QOF 2013/14 indicators for hypertension and their potential implications
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GMS contract
Revised QOF indicators for AF promote risk assessment of stroke
Dr Alan Begg reviews the changes to the atrial fibrillation domain in the GMS contract 2012/13 and highlights how they will improve appropriate use of anticoagulation therapy
