Ireland, like all other developed countries in the world, has an ageing population. It is expected that by 2051, 26% of the population will be over the age of 65 years in Ireland. Population ageing can be seen as one of the greatest successes of public health. However, health service use by those over 65 years is significantly higher, which can pose a significant challenge for health and social systems. Medication use and polypharmacy need special consideration with an ageing population.
The aim of this course is to review changes to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics associated with ageing. It will also define frailty and polypharmacy as well as examine multimorbidity, disease management, and treatment targets for certain disease states in the older person.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a common chronic condition that affects roughly 12% of the Irish population and up to 15% of adults worldwide. It has a major impact on a person’s health, resulting in a progressive loss of kidney function that can lead to kidney failure. If detected early and with appropriate management, the loss of kidney function can be slowed or even stopped, and the risk of complications such as cardiovascular complications reduced.
The aim of this course is to give an overview of the disease, its presenting symptoms, and current approaches to its management. It will also cover opportunities for medicines management in the community and give an overview of sick day rules for patients with chronic kidney disease.
Pharmacogenetics is an area of research which investigates genetic causes in individual variations in drug response. It studies how genes or gene variations may affect response to medication. It can be used to identify whether a certain medication may be effective for a person or have the potential to pose a life-threatening adverse reaction.
The aim of this course is to introduce the area of pharmacogenetics and outline its potential benefits, as well as highlighting specific medications that require pharmacogenetic testing.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. These conditions are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death. In Ireland, six in ten adults are either overweight or obese.
The aim of this course is to give an overview of the condition as well as discussing the prevalence, contributing factors and complications. The course will reference the current HSE model of care for the management of overweight and obesity in Ireland. Pharmacological management will be reviewed, and appropriate resources to support community pharmacists will be highlighted.
Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are defined as any infectious disease of the upper or lower respiratory tract. RTIs are the fourth most common cause of death globally. RTIs also cause the highest burden of disease. They are the main cause of absenteeism from school or work and are the most common reason for GP consultation.
The aim of this course is to define the burden of RTIs and common respiratory pathogens. It will also outline the key principles of antimicrobial stewardship in Ireland and cover signs, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of common RTIs. Review the role of the pharmacist in the management of RTIs and their role in antimicrobial stewardship.