The George Clinic

Many patients may have several mild abnormalities of vascular risk factors, such as slightly raised cholesterol levels or non-optimal blood pressure, that when combined, place patients at substantially increased risk of a cardiovascular event.

Typically, these are not the patients a GP would treat or refer, particularly if the patient does not have an extreme elevation of any single risk factor (e.g. leading to a diagnosis of ‘hypertension’ or ‘hypercholesterolaemia’), which would often prompt treatment. These are patients who fall in a ‘grey zone’.

The George Institute Centre for CardioVascular Health provides a clinical service for this patient group by providing comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment, including evaluation of lipids, blood pressure, other blood markers of vascular risk, nutrition and physical activity. The service aims to assist GPs and their patients make rational treatment choices for improved cardiovascular health. Unlike traditional ’single risk factor’ diagnosis and treatment services, the Centre offers a ‘one stop shop’ for cardiovascular health. Patients are personally guided through their risk assessment and recommended management, which draws on the latest evidence-based approaches and the contributions of a range of leading in-house specialists.

Preventing cardiovascular disease

• Vascular diseases remain the leading causes of premature death and disability in Australia.
• The burden of these diseases is rising with increasingly unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and an ageing population.
• Extensive evidence suggests that the majority of cardiovascular events are preventable.
• Evidence also suggests that known, effective treatments (both drug therapy and methods to assist lifestyle changes) are underutilised.
• Prevention of events relating to various vascular areas (coronary, cerebral, peripheral) largely relies on broadly similar therapeutic strategies.