The AHSN Network, working in partnership with the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) and NICE has published a clinically approved pathway to support secondary care clinicians to optimise lipid management following an acute cardiovascular event.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of premature death and disability due to the consequences of stroke, heart attack (myocardial infarction), and heart failure. The pathway provides clear and unified guidance for clinicians on how optimal lipid management may be achieved, to reduce the risk of further cardiovascular events.

The Lipid management pathways for primary care and secondary care clinicians includes additional medications to use alongside statins, including novel LDL-cholesterol lowering therapies such as the PCSK9i drugs and Inclisiran. These new cholesterol-lowering drugs are important additional tools for managing cardiovascular disease.

A supplementary pathway has also been published to give clearer guidance on lipid optimisation following an acute cardiovascular event for healthcare professionals working within secondary care.

Professor Nick Linker, National Clinical Director for Heart Disease at NHS England and NHS Improvement said: “The ‘Lipid optimisation pathway following an acute cardiovascular event’ provides a clear and simple guide for clinicians to ensure optimal lipid management is achieved for patients. The pathway enables healthcare professionals to implement best practice principles in line with NICE guidance and further supports the prevention of secondary cardiovascular events.”

The AHSN Network supports the NHS in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease through its National Lipid Management and Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) programme of work, which is delivered in partnership with the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC).

Download the new pathway for secondary care clinicians.

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