Treatment and support | Right Decisions

What happens if the individual has an ASSIGN (v2.0) score of 10 or above?

Individuals with an ASSIGN (v2.0) score of 10 or above should be offered advice, support and treatment to reduce their cardiovascular risk.

Support may include being signposted to in-person and/or digital based resources and tools to promote individualised lifestyle improvements or risk factor monitoring.

Lifestyle advice may include advice on:

Physical activity and exercise
Aiming for a healthy weight
Eating healthily
Healthy sleep habits
Quitting tobacco
Reducing alcohol intake.

Medications to reduce risk may include:

Blood pressure lowering medication.
Statin or other lipid lowering medication to reduce cholesterol levels.

Individuals with an ASSIGN (v2.0) score of less than 10 may still benefit from personalised lifestyle advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Resources for healthcare professionals

National CVD risk factor and prevention toolkit link

National cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and risk factors toolkit | Right Decisions

Statins and lipid lowering treatment

Atorvastatin - British National Formulary

Link to recommended first line statin therapy and general information.

Discuss risks and benefits of statins - NICE guideline [NG238] Recommendations

NICE guideline [NG238] covers identifying and assessing risk of cardiovascular disease in adults without established CVD, lifestyle changes and lipid-lowering treatment for primary and secondary prevention of CVD.

Hypertension

Hypertension - BNF treatment summaries

About hypertension, its management and treatment approaches.

Adult hypertension referral pathway and therapeutic management: British and Irish Hypertension Society position statement

Adult hypertension therapeutic management and referral pathway: Includes BIHS framework for referral to secondary care for routine and emergency/same day referrals.

Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management - NICE guideline [NG136]

Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management updated 2023.

2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of elevated blood pressure and hypertension - European Heart Journal

European Society of Cardiology hypertension guidelines, 2024.

Remote blood pressure monitoring

National Blood Pressure Service

A national programme (Connect Me) delivering a primary care pathway for hypertension diagnoses, intervention, treatment, and ongoing monitoring.

Remote health monitoring - Turas Learn

Information on how remote monitoring technology can be used to help people receive, record and send healthcare information.

Resources - national blood pressure -Technology Enabled Care Scotland

Connect Me blood pressure resources for patients

Type 2 Diabetes prevention, remission and diabetes management

Type 2 diabetes mellitus Quality prescribing strategy: Lifestyle interventions and remission

Guidance on how to achieve diabetes remission through lifestyle intervention

Management of Diabetes - SIGN 116

Information on managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes, psychosocial issues, preventing visual impairment, and managing type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Prevention of diabetes and prediabetes are not covered.

Prevention and remission of type 2 diabetes - SIGN

Prevention and remission of type 2 diabetes (SIGN) | Right Decisions

Obesity

Course: Challenging weight stigma learning hub - Public Health Scotland

Evidence based online resource, aimed at increasing awareness of weight stigma and the impact it has on individuals, as well as identifying actions that can be taken to address it.

SIGN Guideline on risk estimation and cardiovascular disease prevention

Risk estimation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease - SIGN 149

Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network's current guideline (SIGN 149) on the management of cardiovascular risk. This guideline is due to be reviewed and updated in 2025.

Note that many NHS Boards also produce local guidance for cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. These may also be available via the Right Decision Service.

Resources to signpost to for patients and public

Cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease - NHS inform

Information and advice on cardiovascular disease and its modifiable risk factors.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) - NHS inform

Information and advice on hypertension.

Technology Enabled Care Scotland: Resources - national blood pressure

Connect Me blood pressure resources for patients

Monitoring Your Blood Pressure - Technology Enabled Care Scotland

Hints and tips for monitoring blood pressure

High cholesterol

High cholesterol - NHS inform

Information and advice on cholesterol.

Smoking

Quit Your Way Scotland - NHS inform

An advice and support service for anyone trying to stop smoking in Scotland

Benefits of stopping smoking - NHS inform

Information on the benefits of stopping smoking.

Diet, physical activity and weight

Managing my weight - Prevent the progress of diabetes

Includes patient facing information about BMI, diet options and links to further information and learning resources.

Lose weight - NHS Better Health

Contains advice and tools to support healthier eating habits, increased physical active, and weight loss. Includes links to a range of weight loss programmes and the NHS Weight Loss app.

Keeping active - NHS inform