Digitalis for heart failure – how was it disowned?
20th September 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo (in collaboration with A/Prof Masis Perk) It has been12 months now since we highlighted on GPVoice that digitalis is making a comeback in the management of heart failure. We pointed out the important role it has in heart failure (HF) but its use was downplayed in most of […]
Silent ischaemia – why are we still missing them?
19th September 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo We know that atherosclerosis is likely to be present for years or decades before clinical disease becomes manifest. Current primary prevention of cardiovascular events is guided largely by calculated risk-factor scores or symptoms of ischaemia. However, these scores are strongly influenced by age and tend to assign low […]
The negative HORIZON trial – what does this mean to lipoprotein (a) lowering?
9th September 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) is now accepted as a genetic, independent, and likely causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease (1-3). Lipid-lowering therapies does very little to Lp(a) levels. While PCSK9-directed therapies may lower Lp(a) by 20-30% the reductions are not clinically significant as some patients have 3-8 times the […]
Diabetic Sarcopenia Care in Older Adults with Diabetes – a short survey
5th September, A/Prof Chee L Khoo and A/Prof Shannon Lin Diabetes-related sarcopenia, characterised by the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function in people with diabetes, is an emerging but under-recognised complication associated with falls, frailty, hospitalisations, and reduced quality of life. I am working closely with researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) […]
pTau181 biomarker now TGA approved – what does that mean?
13th August 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo We know (maybe better phrased – we think we know) that it is the amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques that are a key driver of pathological processes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (1,2). Targeting the Aβ should then prevent or at the very least delay the progression of the dementia. The […]
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 […]
Insulin degludec is coming to the PBS anytime soon – what is it?
30th June 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo We have waited for a very long time. We only have one second generation long-acting basal insulin even though degludec have been available overseas for ≥ 10 years now. Insulin degludec (iDeg), in combination with a prandial insulin (insulin aspart) has been available in Australia as Ryzodeg® since […]
Teplizumab approved for T1D – what does that mean in practice?
28th June 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo It’s all over the news. Teplizumab (Tzield) has just been approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) in adult and paediatric patients aged 8 years and older with Stage 2 type 1 diabetes mellitus (1). Wow. […]
Management of Resistant Hypertension – new kid on the block
25th May 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo All of us have more than a few patients with essential hypertension (i.e. hypertension with no secondary causes) who remain hypertensive despite two or three anti-hypertensives. These are patients who are already on an ACE inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) plus a calcium channel blocker (CCB) […]
Meniscal injuries without OA – do arthroscopy help?
10th May 2026, A/Prof Chee L Khoo We were taught in medical school that meniscal injuries inevitably need arthroscopic debridement. Of course, these are likely the ones that don’t improve with physical therapy – physiotherapy, hydrotherapy or chiropractic treatment. We don’t see those that got better with conservative measures. We also don’t see what happen […]
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 […]