Menopausal hormone therapy – good or bad for CVD?
29th August 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo The European Society of Endocrinology clinical practice guideline for evaluation and management of menopause and the perimenopause recommend that a holistic approach is taken for women during perimenopause and menopause, not having a sole focus on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)/ menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) (1). It recognised that […]
Low carbohydrate diet in MAFLD – how important is it?
25th July 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo We know that 55-65% patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) (1). We also know that 28% of patients with MAFLD will develop T2D if not already present by the time MAFLD is detected (2). There is emerging evidence that there […]
New – Olezarsen for severe hypertriglyceridaemia
12th July 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo We don’t see many acute pancreatitis in our rooms but the incidence of acute pancreatitis is gradually increasing (1). Many will develop further episodes and some will develop chronic pancreatitis. Although most patients with acute pancreatitis have its mild form, some develop moderate or severe acute pancreatitis, both […]
Renal colic – which scan to order?
11th May 2026, NIA Diagnostic Imaging When you suspect renal colic in a patient presenting with loin or flank pain, you have a number of different scans you can order to explore the diagnosis. It could be an ultrasound of the kidneys or a CT scan of the KUB (kidneys, ureter and bladder). Which one […]
National Lung Screening Program – more than just looking for cancer
13th April 2026, NIA Diagnostic Imaging Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Australia, accounting for over 8,500 deaths each year. The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) is a major step forward, using low-dose CT scans to detect cancer earlier in those at high risk. This initiative is designed to reduce […]
Should we screen for helicobacter infection in patients on aspirin?
29th September 2025, A/Prof Chee L Khoo I must admit that I have been doing this for many years on an ad hoc basis. I have been screening for helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in patients who need to be on aspirin (primary or secondary prevention of coronary artery disease). This isn’t what is recommended in […]
Reducing LDL-C for brain health – how low do we need to go?
27th April 2025, A/Prof Chee L Khoo We recently looked at the LDL-C levels needed to stabilise plaque progression and the LDL-C levels needed to cause plaque regression. Plaque stabilisation and regression leads to reduction in cardiovascular events. Dyslipidaemia (especially LDL-C) is also associated with cognitive impairment and dementia and reducing those numbers with statin […]
CKD – high protein intake or not?
12th September 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo Inadequate protein intake in older adults may cause impairments of muscle mass and muscle function as well as impairment in immune function. Higher protein intake has been associated with increased muscle mass and strength, slower rate of bone loss, higher bone mineral density, lower risk of frailty, and […]
Does salt reduction really reduce BP and CVD?
21st July 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo I know this what we were all led to believe – high salt intake independently contributes to high blood pressure and ultimately, increases cardiovascular disease (CVD). Further, reducing salt intake will reduce blood pressure and thence, cardiovascular disease. We may sometimes wonder how strong the evidence for both […]
Intravenous iron for iron deficiency – can you give too much?
13th July 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo Iron deficiency can occur in a number of scenarios. It can arise from blood loss (gastrointestinal, gynaecological), inadequate dietary sources or limited absorption in inflammatory conditions (e.g CKD, heart failure or diabetes). Oral iron supplements not only can have annoying GI side effects but absorption is poor under […]
The 4th Pillar in treatment of CKD
31st May 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors have been the cornerstone treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for many years now. They have been shown to protect kidneys and at the same time reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Finerenone was recently shown to do the same. These three agents […]
Colchicine to reduce CVD – is it prime time yet?
12th May 2024, A/Prof Chee L Khoo We are used to using colchicine for acute treatment of gout but colchicine has also proven itself a key pharmacotherapy in the treatment of cardiovascular conditions such as pericardial disease (1), post-operative atrial fibrillation (2) and coronary artery disease (3). Colchicine disrupts the inflammatory response in acute gout […]