Lipid Disorders

From April – August 2022, the Department will contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This forms part of a routine audit 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.

Additional information which may assist triage:

  • Smoking and alcohol history
  • Family history of hyperlipidaemia
  • Previous lipid results (serial if available)
  • CK results
  • Any imaging confirming presence of cardiovascular disease
  • Coronary artery calcium score

Interim management advice for Hyperlipidaemia can be found on the Health Pathwayswebsite.

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

Urgent / category 1

extreme elevation of triglycerides, refer without delay due to risk of pancreatitis

Semi-urgent / category 2

Patients with prior ACS and:

  • LDL>5.0mmol/L; or
  • DLNC Score > 6 (ie likely heterozygous family history)

Routine / category 3

  • Significantly raised LDL (> 4 mmol/L) in high CVD risk patients
  • Difficult to control LDL (> 3.3 mmol/L) in CHD patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
  • Severe mixed dyslipidemia (TC and TG totalling more than 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