As we are aware, alcohol is a toxic and psychoactive substance which can induce dependence behavior among its users. Nowadays, alcoholic beverages frequently accompany social occasions in society, overlooking the health and social damage caused by drinking. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, alcohol consumption contributes to 3 million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people worldwide. The use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of disease, accountable for 7.1% and 2.2% of the global burden of disease for males and females respectively. Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 15 to 49 years, accounting for 10 percent of all deaths in this age group. Disadvantaged and especially vulnerable populations have higher rates of alcohol-related death and hospitalization (please click). There is also a causal relationship between the use of alcohol and a range of mental and behavioural disorders, other non-communicable conditions and injuries (please click). 

The Department of Health has recently developed a new series of self-help resources for people who drink alcohol and guides for helping this population to change their drinking habits (please click). In addition, there are toolkits for facilitating primary care professionals to deliver alcohol screening and brief interventions to their patients, helping them to change their drinking habits in a more convenient way. Family doctors are encouraged to make use of the resource materials in helping patients to cut down and quit their alcohol consumption in the daily clinical practice.

The Annual Scientific Conference of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) GP22 will take place from 25th to 27th November at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. As usual, the Conference offers a dynamic programme with a range of clinical and research sessions for all attendees. This year, delegates can choose to attend in-person and spend three days upskilling and networking with colleagues from Australia and around the world. RACGP has also announced that digital registration is being planned for later in the year and would include access to the digital program specifically tailored for digital attendees. Please stay tuned for their updates (please click).

Hypertension (HT) is one of the high prevalence chronic conditions affecting over 1 in 5 worldwide and more than a quarter of those living in Hong Kong between the ages of 15-84. It is also one of the most common chronic conditions encountered in primary care practice. Studies have revealed that HT is one of the major cardiovascular risk factors which needs to be addressed properly and in a timely manner in order to reduce the related risks in morbidity and potentially mortality. In this month’s Hong Kong Practitioner (HKPract), our College Journal, we have an article on the application of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in primary care clinics in Hong Kong by Wong et al. highlighting the indications and applications of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in the daily clinical practice. It is a useful reference for primary care doctors and makes for an interesting read. 

Please keep well and stay safe.