{"title":"Pharmacotherapy for the management of overweight and obesity.","authors":"Patrice Forner, Samantha Hocking","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-09-24-7411","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-09-24-7411","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lifestyle intervention is the mainstay of obesity management; however, behavioural modification alone produces only modest results and attempts to create a negative energy balance are offset by a biological response to maintain weight. Pharmacotherapy is indicated as an adjunct for those living with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2) or those who are overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) with a least one weight-related complication.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This article provides an update on pharmacotherapy for the management of overweight and obesity.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Pharmacotherapy is a useful adjunct for the treatment of obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. When considering pharmacotherapy, thought must be given to efficacy, contraindications, potential side effects, cost and duration of treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"196-201"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sally Dunbar, Danny Liew, Jenni Ilomaki, Stella Talic
{"title":"Overall medicine burden for people on lipid-lowering therapy: Cross-sectional analysis of national pharmacy dispensing data.","authors":"Sally Dunbar, Danny Liew, Jenni Ilomaki, Stella Talic","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7168","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>This paper describes the overall number of prescriptions and unique medicines dispensed and costs borne by a cohort of patients treated with lipid-lowering therapy and report on associations with age, concessional status and comorbidity.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a 12-month cross-sectional study using the 10% random sample of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) dispensing data for 2019.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A high number of prescriptions and unique medicines dispensed was associated with older age, concessional status and comorbidity. Around one-quarter of patients aged 61-80 years were dispensed ≥57 prescriptions, ≥10 unique medicines and seven or more unique long-term medicines during the year. PBS status was the strongest predictor of cost borne, with one-quarter of general beneficiaries paying $760 or more.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This cohort commonly has related comorbidities resulting in multiple prescribed medicines, frequent dispensing and out-of-pocket costs. General practitioners are likely aware of patients' overall health and circumstances and can assist with periodic medicine review and the use of combination or extended-release preparations when available. Improved knowledge of the PBS safety net would be beneficial. Recent changes to the PBS will effect some reduction in dispensing frequency and cost borne by patients, but these changes could be extended.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"222-228"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The puzzle of medicine: Insights from a case of intravascular lymphoma.","authors":"Jie Gu, Yanyan Huang","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-09-24-7412","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-09-24-7412","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"237-238"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"April 2025 correspondence.","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"167-168"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fatigue and chronic anaemia: Could it be VEXAS syndrome?","authors":"Natalie S Lee, Tim Y Lu","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-02-24-7158","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"219-221"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Obesity and weight management.","authors":"Chris Dickie","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-04-25-1234e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-04-25-1234e","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"165"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fads and facts: Popular diets and their medical management.","authors":"Terri-Lynne South","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-11-24-7459","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31128/AJGP-11-24-7459","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"179-183"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yifu Richard Li, Bosco Wu, Cameron Nik, Linda Wu, Tim Tse
{"title":"Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for weight loss: Consider the case for selective pharmacotherapy.","authors":"Yifu Richard Li, Bosco Wu, Cameron Nik, Linda Wu, Tim Tse","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-06-23-6877","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-06-23-6877","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"192-195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Out of sight, out of mind: Investing in prison primary healthcare to target vulnerable groups.","authors":"Stephen Hampton, Penelope Abbott","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-09-24-7397","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-09-24-7397","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"234-235"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bo Bi, Tiana Gurney, Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan
{"title":"Adult obesity management in Australia: How can we bridge the gap between guidelines and current general practice?","authors":"Bo Bi, Tiana Gurney, Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan","doi":"10.31128/AJGP-07-23-6903","DOIUrl":"10.31128/AJGP-07-23-6903","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Obesity is still recognised as a risk factor rather than a chronic disease in Australia. General practitioners (GPs) have reported a lack of confidence and support in the management of obesity. In this study, we explored GPs' current definitions and treatment of obesity and their attitudes towards proposed clinician educational and billing strategies.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In this cross-sectional study, an online survey was distributed to GPs across Australia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 189 GPs who completed the survey, 82% defined obesity, with and/or without comorbidities, as a chronic disease. There is a significant gap between current practice and clinical guidelines, particularly in screening and prevention. The overall attitude towards proposed solutions was very positive. Descriptive analysis was used to present the characteristics of the participants. Chi-squared tests or Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate the relationship between categorical variables.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Australia's outdated definition of obesity likely hinders management and contributes to the observed gap between clinical guidelines and current practice. Clinician education on behaviour change and long-term weight management, funding for more enhanced primary care referrals and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listing of pharmacotherapy for weight loss might be possible solutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":54241,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of General Practice","volume":"54 4","pages":"171-178"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143774797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}