Care of adults with long-term conditions

Multiple comorbidities necessitate care from a number of healthcare providers. Continuity of care is important for both patient satisfaction and quality of life. This chapter outlines primary care for adults with a variety of conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lower back pain, asthma and acute asthma, and stable and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It covers drugs commonly used in the treatment of respiratory conditions, including long-term oxygen and nebulizers. It then goes on to cover coronary heart disease, angina, hypertension, cardiac rehabilitation, heart failure, abnormal cardiac rhythms and atrial fibrillation, patients on anticoagulant therapies, and drugs used in cardiovascular diseases. The chapter also includes information on anaemia, varicose veins, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, and Parkinson’s disease.