Improving Lipid Management in High-Risk Primary Prevention Patients: Insights From A Rural UK Primary Care Practice

People living with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) face a substantially elevated risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), yet uptake of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) remains suboptimal across UK primary care.1 In the UK, high-risk primary prevention patients are defined as those with a QRISK3 score ≥10%, indicating a predicted 10-year cardiovascular risk ≥10% and…

Inflammaging Risk Score (IRS): Detecting Early Biological Aging in Primary Care

Inflammaging—defined as chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation associated with aging—is a major underlying driver of multimorbidity, metabolic dysfunction, frailty, and early cognitive decline. Despite its increasing recognition in gerontology and immunology, there is no simple, clinically applicable method for assessing inflammaging in family medicine. Given the central role of primary care in prevention and management of…

BMI gain following smoking cessation is associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s dementia

As primary care physicians, we advise patients to quit smoking. However, BMI gain often follows smoking cessation, and managing the potential negative impacts of BMI gain also falls within our clinical responsibilities. Meanwhile, Alzheimer's dementia and vascular dementia are growing disease entities that are major concerns among elderly patients. It has not been clarified whether…

Severe Falciparum Malaria in a Returning Traveler: A Primary Care Reminder of Travel History and Red Flags

Malaria is rarely encountered in Taiwan, making early recognition challenging for primary care physicians. Travelers returning from endemic regions without prophylaxis remain at risk for severe Plasmodium falciparum infection. This case illustrates the importance of systematic travel history–taking and identification of red-flag symptoms in primary care.A 66-year-old healthy man presented to primary care with five…

Effect of Six-Month Camellia Oil Consumption on Body Mass Index in Adults: A Self-Controlled Intervention Study

Camellia oil is traditionally regarded as a health-promoting dietary oil in Asian populations, particularly for its potential benefits to metabolic balance and gastrointestinal function. Its fatty acid profile is similar to olive oil, which has been shown to improve lipid metabolism and support weight regulation. However, scientific evidence regarding the clinical effects of camellia oil…

Improving Shingles Vaccine Uptake in Immunosuppressed Patients Across Primary Care

Patients receiving biological therapies or JAK inhibitors for rheumatological conditions have an increased risk of herpes zoster. UK guidance (September 2023) recommended shingles vaccination for severely immunosuppressed adults aged ≥50. National uptake between September 2024 and February 2025 remained low, with 21.5% receiving one dose and 13.1% completing both doses.This audit aimed to evaluate local…

visual hallucinations in a blind patient

An 86-year-old woman with a history of arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart failure, glaucoma, anxiety-depressive disorder, and blindness (visual acuity in the right eye 0.05% and left eye 30%). She previously underwent cataract surgery. Current treatment includes sacubitril/valsartan, nebivolol, furosemide, and atorvastatin. No toxic habits. She presents to the primary care consultation due to visual hallucinations—seeing…