August 2024

Peer Reviewed Feature Articles
Cardiovascular medicine

Stroke risk mitigation. Prescribing and monitoring anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation

Katrina Giskes, Nicole Lowres, Charlotte Hespe, Ben Freedman

People with atrial fibrillation (AF) have an increased risk of thromboembolic stroke. Their stroke risk should be calculated as soon as they are diagnosed and if they are at high risk, oral anticoagulation therapy should be started immediately. A nonvitamin K-dependent oral anticoagulant is the first-line antithrombotic agent for nonvalvular AF.

Dermatology

Keratinocyte skin cancers: updates on diagnosis and management

Vera Y. Miao, Kevin Phan, Stephen Shumack

GPs are at the forefront of the detection and management of keratinocyte cancers, which are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia. Prevention through sun-safe education, early detection and appropriate treatment can help reduce the impact these cancers have on patients’ lives and the healthcare system.

Free Access
Free access
Neurology

Dementia with Lewy bodies: addressing its challenges in primary healthcare

Chaminda Gunawardana, Simon Lewis

Dementia with Lewy bodies is an aggressive form of dementia that requires a multidisciplinary management approach. Patients may experience a prolonged prodromal phase, with presenting features including sleep disorder and cognitive, motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Peer Reviewed Regular Series
Nutrition clinic

Diets: evidence-based versus the fads

Alan W. Barclay

Thousands of fad diets exist, which promise quick and often miraculous results; however, they mostly offer short-term fixes to long-term health problems. Practical, evidence-based healthy eating advice for the general population can be found in the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.

Paediatrics clinic

Paediatric vulvar lichen sclerosus – diagnosis and management

Marlene Wijaya, Rebecca Bronwyn Saunderson

Paediatric vulvar lichen sclerosus is a chronic dermatosis that may persist lifelong. Early diagnosis and patient adherence to long-term maintenance therapy is paramount to maximise disease control.

Physician-authored summaries and commentary on the most important medical research, provided by the NEJM Group, a division of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

© Massachusetts Medical Society