Question

A 46-year-old Aboriginal man from a remote community attends an adult health check. He smokes 10 cigarettes per day and has a BMI of 31 kg/m². BP today is 144/88 mmHg and fasting lipids show total cholesterol 6.2 mmol/L, HDL 0.9 mmol/L. He has no known cardiovascular disease. According to current Australian practice, what is the most appropriate approach to cardiovascular risk assessment for this patient?

Accepted Answer

Apply the Australian absolute CVD risk calculator now because Aboriginal people are screened earlier

Answer

Defer risk assessment until age 50 as he is asymptomatic

Answer

Use a US-based risk calculator and treat only if 10-year risk >10 percent

Answer

Perform angiography to directly visualise coronary arteries

Answer

Do no formal risk assessment but advise smoking cessation only

Practice question