Lipid Disorders

The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form.  This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date.  If you receive this SMS, please update your details.

Availability

North South North West Statewide

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to the Referral Standards and must include:

  • Details of all treatments offered and efficacy
  • Relevant previous medical history and co-morbidities (especially cardiovascular disease)
  • BP

Tests

  • ELFTs, HbA1c, TSH results
  • Recent (within 3 months) fasting lipid results (cholesterol/ triglyceride/ HDL-cholesterol/ LDL-cholesterol

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Cardiology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Pathology:

  • LFT
  • HbA1c
  • TSH
  • Recent (within 3 months) fasting lipid results (chol, TG, HDL, LDL)

Imaging:

  • Nil

Investigations:

  • BP

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

Urgent / category 1

Total triglyceride > 20mmol/L in patient having had episode of pancreatitis

Semi-urgent / category 2

* Patients with prior ACS, polyvascular disease and rapidly progressive CVD* and (select either):

-   LDL>2.6mmol/L despite (or intolerance to) medical therapy
or
DLNC* Score > 6 (i.e. likely heterozygous family history)

* Dutch Lipid Network Score

2nd or subsequent CV event despite appropriate therapy and compliance

Routine / category 3

* Significantly raised LDL (> 4 mmol/L) in high CVD risk patients despite initial medical therapy
* Difficult to control LDL (> 3.3 mmol/L) in CHD patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
* Severe mixed dyslipidaemia (TC and TG totalling more than 10 mmol/L)
* Young patients with dyslipidaemia with a family history of premature CAD or possible FH (DLNC 4-6)
* Severe hypertriglyceridemia (>10 mmol/L)

Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency:

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

Urgent:

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review.

We will endeavour to see these patients within one week, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Semi-urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks

Routine:

Next available appointment usually within eight weeks