Volume 184 Issue 8 Supplement

These guidelines were developed by means of a consensus approach which involved an independent assessment of key Australian and international evidence based clinical guidelines, scientific articles and trial data, which are incomplete in some areas.
Recommendations are not necessarily congruent with current Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme criteria for eligibility for subsidy in all areas.
The guidelines provide a general framework for appropriate practice, to be followed subject to the practitioner’s judgement in each individual case. All treatments should be individualised according to the patient’s comorbidities, drug tolerance, lifestyle and living circumstances, and wishes.
For all medications, observe usual contraindications, be mindful of the potential for significant and possibly adverse drug interactions and allergies, and monitor and review patients carefully and regularly.
Where drug therapy is recommended for indefinite use, these recommendations have been based on the extrapolated findings of clinical trials which are by their nature of limited duration.
These guidelines were published in April 2006 and are based on the literature up to September 2005.
Please check Heartsite regularly for updates and amendments.