INFORMATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Information, guidelines and policy papers for health professionals are available in the Professional section of Heart Foundation Website. www.heartfoundation.com.au

Summary of issues relevant to GP's - July 2004

Very Low Carbohydrate Diets - Heart Foundation Position (April 2004)
(PDF format-70K)
The Heart Foundation's position statement on very low carbohydrate diets. Includes a summary of recent findings, efficacy and mechanism of weight loss, effects on CV risk factors and potential or known adverse effects. An information sheet in question-answer format is also available.

Very Low Carbohydrate Diets - Q&A
(PDF format-43K)
Information about the Heart Foundation's position on very low carbohydrate diets - in question and answer format.

Position Statement on Dietary Fat and Overweight/Obesity (Nutr Diet 2003;60:174-6)
(PDF format-21K)
National Heart Foundation of Australia position statement on dietary fat and overweight/obesity, published in Nutrition & Dietetics, Vol 60(3) Sept 2003. Support documents below:

Guidelines for Management of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure in Australia (Summary Paper)
(PDF format-452K) A summary paper based on the full guidelines document.

Nutrition Recommendations for Cardiac Rehabilitation 2002 (Aug 2002)
(PDF format-71K)
This resource outlines recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of nutrition education provided within the context of Australian outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRPs). It addresses structure and process issues, briefly describes a range of behavioural approaches and outlines and prioritises nutrition information recommended for inclusion in CRP nutrition education.

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia - Information for Doctors
(PDF format-974K)

Hypertension Management Guide for Doctors 2004
(PDF format-816K)
This 2004 guide is an evolution of the Heart Foundation’s 1999 blood pressure guidelines. It has been developed using a consensus approach which involved an assessment of key Australian and International evidence-based clinical guidelines, scientific articles and trial data. More information about the guide, the development process and how it is different to the 1999 version is contained in the document below.

Hypertension Management Guide for Doctors 2004 - Earn CPD Points
(PDF format-42K)

Hypertension Management Guide for Doctors 2004 - Academic Detailing
(PDF format-49K)

Hypertension Management Guide for Doctors 2004 - Commonly Asked Questions
(PDF format-69K)
An information sheet in question-answer format which describes the guide's review process, the focus of the guidelines, endorsing organisations etc.

Guidelines on the Contemporary Management of the Patient with Chronic Heart Failure in Australia (Full Document)
(PDF format-904K)
A collaborative initiative between the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand

The use of Antioxidant Supplements in Heart Disease (Oct 2002)
(PDF format-89K)
Recommendations of the National Heart Foundation of Australia's Nutrition and Metabolism Advisory Committee regarding the use of antioxidant supplements in heart disease

Dietary Fat (Nov 1999)
(PDF format-137K)
A position statement of the National Heart Foundation of Australia's Nutrition and Metabolism Advisory Committee. This paper is based on the relationship between dietary fat intake and well-established clinical end points for cardiovascular disease.

Dietary Fibre (May 1997 *Currently under review)
(htm format-6K)
The National Heart Foundation of Australia (NHFA) Nutrition and Metabolism Advisory Committee is currently reviewing the relationship between dietary fibre and cardiovascular disease. This is a policy statement which was prepared by the Diet and Heart Disease Advisory Committee on behalf of the NHFA in May 1997.

Homocysteine and Cardiovascular Disease (May 1997 *Reviewed 2003)
(PDF format-14K)
The National Heart Foundation of Australia's Nutrition and Metabolism Advisory Committee reviewed this position statement in 2003. The position statement will be reconsidered when results from randomised controlled trials, currently underway, are made available. The paper outlines the relationship between homocysteine and cardiovascular disease.

Plant Sterols and Stanols (Aug 2003)
(PDF format-133K)
A position paper from the National Heart Foundation of Australia Nutrition and Metabolism Advisory Committee outlining the role of plant sterols and stanols in cardiovascular disease.

A Review of the Relationship Between Dietary Fat and Overweight/Obesity (Sept 2003)
(PDF format-337K)
An evidence-based review of the scientific literature examining the relationship between dietary fat and overweight/obesity.

Dietary Fat and Overweight/Obesity - Q & A (Sept 2003)
(PDF format-142K)
Answers to key questions you may have on the review of the relationship between dietary fat and overweight/obesity.

Salt and Hypertension (Feb 2002)
(PDF format-118K)
This paper was prepared by the National Blood Pressure Advisory Committee on behalf of the National Heart Foundation of Australia. It outlines recommendations for patients with hypertension.

Healthier Catering Guidelines (Sept 2003)
(PDF format-525K)
Helpful hints detailing practical ways of implementing healthier catering practices.