This is a generic desk guide for managing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension in adults in LMICs. This desk guide is a concise “quick reference” for doctors, clinical officers, paramedics, nurses and counsellors to use when providing routine care and health education to all patients.  The initial assessment pages are designed for use with any adult who presents at a primary care facility e.g. health centre or district hospital outpatient department. The objective is to enable effective opportunistic screening, diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic NCDs, in particular, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and underlying risk factors. The desk guide clearly indicates when other guidelines should be used, i.e. when the management of disease, such as acute illness, is not within the scope of this guide.

It provides a systematic approach to monitoring patients with these diseases and the prevention and identification of complications. It clearly indicates when referral to district hospital and assessment by a more senior clinician is appropriate, in conjunction with continuing routine care at the nearest health unit. The clinical guide includes brief lifestyle education messages. A Health Educator Desk Guide which provides a detailed guide on lifestyle advice and treatment support for nurses, paramedics and other educators can be accessed here. These guides are currently being piloted and are likely to undergo further revisions. Please see the COMDIS-HSD website website for the most up-to-date versions.