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The article focuses on a study on the assessment of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in high-risk patients treated with atorvastatin monotherapy in Great Britain, as of April 2014. Topics include recommendation of statins as lipid-modifying treatment (LMT) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) by British clinical guidelines, use of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines in the study and limitations of the study.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors have proved to be efficacious, safe, and well tolerated, in clinical trials and practice, for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). However, many patients are not satisfied with treatment and discontinue it prematurely. This review discusses evidence-based strategies that nurse practitioners (NPs) can use to improve diagnosis of ED, optimize patient outcomes, and identify opportunities to detect other potentially serious comorbid conditions. This article was based on a previously published review, which involved a PubMed-MEDLINE search of the clinical literature from January 1, 1998 (year of sildenafil's approval in many markets), through August 30, 2008 (date of search). Strategies to optimize responses to PDE5 therapy are summarized by the mnemonic '': valuating and ducating to ensure realistic xpectations of therapy; rescribing a treatment individualized to the couple's needs and preferences; ptimizing drug dose/regimen and revisiting key educational messages at follow-up visits; ontrolling omorbidities via lifestyle counseling, medications, and/or referrals; and elping patients and their partners to seek other forms of therapy if they have decided not to use a PDE5 inhibitor. The 'EPOCH' mnemonic may remind NPs of steps to optimize treatment outcomes with PDE5 inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]