Guidance on the management of familial hypercholesterolaemia in Hong Kong: an expert panel consensus viewpoin.

In 2016, meetings of groups of physicians and paediatricians with a special interest in lipid disorders and familial hypercholesterolaemia were held to discuss several domains of management of familial hypercholesterolaemia in adults and children in Hong Kong. After reviewing the evidence and guidelines for the diagnosis, screening, and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia, consensus was reached on the following aspects: clinical features, diagnostic criteria, screening in adults, screening in children, management in relation to target plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, detection of atherosclerosis, lifestyle and behaviour modification, and pharmacotherapy.

Improving medication safety and diabetes management in Hong Kong: a multidisciplinary approach.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with diabetes often require complex medication regimens. The positive impact of pharmacists on improving diabetes management or its co-morbidities has been recognised worldwide. This study aimed to characterise drug-related problems among diabetic patients in Hong Kong and their clinical significance, and to explore the role of pharmacists in the multidisciplinary diabetes management team by evaluating the outcome of their clinical interventions. METHODS: An observational study was conducted at the Diabetes Clinic of a public hospital in Hong Kong from October 2012 to March 2014. Following weekly screening, and prior to the doctor's consultation, selected high-risk patients were interviewed by a pharmacist for medication reconciliation and review. Drug-related problems were identified and documented by the pharmacist who presented clinical recommendations to doctors to optimise a patient's drug regimen and resolve or prevent potential drug-related problems. RESULTS: A total of 522 patients were analysed and 417 drug-related problems were identified. The incidence of patients with drug-related problems was 62.8% with a mean of 0.9 (standard deviation, 0.6) drug-related problems per patient. The most common categories of drug-related problems were associated with dosing (43.9%), drug choice (17.3%), and non-allergic adverse reactions (15.6%). Drugs most frequently involved targeted the endocrine or cardiovascular system. The majority (71.9%) of drug-related problems were of moderate clinical significance and 28.1% were considered minor problems. Drug-related problems were totally solved (50.1%) and partially solved (11.0%) by doctors' acceptance of pharmacist recommendations, or received acknowledgement from doctors (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, demonstrated a positive impact by identifying, resolving, and preventing drug-related problems in patients with diabetes. Further plans for sustaining pharmacy service in the Diabetes Clinic would enable further studies to explore the long-term impact of pharmacists in improving patients' clinical outcomes in diabetes management.

Impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. It has been shown that the risk of adverse maternal, foetal, and neonatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus is related to the degree of glucose intolerance and/or hyperglycaemia; gestational diabetes mellitus also has long-term sequelae for both the mother and the offspring. As gestational diabetes mellitus is rarely symptomatic, diagnosis of the condition relies on screening. The diagnostic criteria and the management of gestational diabetes mellitus are discussed and areas of controversy and recent advances highlighted.