Specialty: Cardiology
Age group: Adult
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
- Total triglyceride greater than 5 millimoles per litre unresponsive to medical management
- Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) greater than 3.5 millimoles per litre in patients on treatment with high-risk cardiovascular disease (e.g. prior acute coronary syndrome)
- Difficult to control low-density lipoproteins (LDL) greater than 3.3.millimoles per litre in patients with coronary heart disease and with familial hypercholesterolaemia.
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
- Recent fasting lipid profile results
- Relevant medical history and comorbidities, especially cardiovascular diseases
- Any treatments previously tried, duration of trial and effect
- Current and complete medication history (including non-prescription medicines, herbs and supplements).
Provide if available
- History of smoking and alcohol intake
- Any family history of hyperlipidaemia
- Creatine kinase levels
- Liver function tests
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level
- If diabetic current and previous HbA1c results
- Any imaging results that show the presence of cardiovascular disease
- Coronary artery calcium score (if already performed)
- If the person identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Where appropriate and available, the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.
Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for
- Patients with high low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and with a low cardiovascular risk.
Reviewed 30 May 2025