Guidelines

Best Practice Evidence-based Guidelines.

These guidelines have been produced by the Heart Foundation and the New Zealand Guidelines Group. This information is written for Health Professionals.

For the General Public, please visit Living with Heart Disease or contact your local Cardiac Support Group.

The Assessment and Management of Cardiovascular Risk is intended for use in the clinical management of the major modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, by general practitioners, nurse practitioners, practice nurses and dietitians. It may also be valuable to other health practitioners, such as pharmacists, involved in the care of people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes in the community, or in secondary and tertiary care sectors.

It seeks to assist informed decision-making by adults with and without known cardiovascular disease, their families, whänau and their health care providers, with the ultimate goal of improving the cardiovascular health of New Zealanders.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Summary and Resource Kit

Cardiac Rehabilitation Guidelines Summary

'A Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure', revised in December 2001, makes recommendations relating to the management of patients with an established diagnosis of congestive heart failure due to systolic ventricular dysfunction.

The guideline and accompanying algorithm are an excellent tool for health professionals who are supporting patients living with heart failure. The Heart Foundation also produce consumer resources related to heart failure.

Rheumatic Fever Guideline 1:Diagnosis, Management and Secondary Prevention

Rheumatic Fever Guideline 2: Group A Streptococcal Sore Throat Management

Algorithm 1: A Guide for Diagnosis of Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF)

Algorithm 2: A Guide for the Use of Echocardiography in Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF)

Algorithm 3: A Guide for the Duration of Secondary Prophylaxis in Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF)

Algorithm 4: A Guide to Sore Throat Management

Guidelines to the establishment of Phase 3 cardiac rehabilitationand secondary prevention programmes in the community. This downloadable guide has been developed to assist the public in establishing a Phase 3 Cardiac rehabilitation programme.

While health professionals may have a good idea of what "risk" is, the public may not and this can result in poor compliance with medications and interventions. The following links give health professionals a better understanding of the publics' perception of risk.