Clinician Resources

A quick, practical way to approach IBS in everyday primary care. It brings together the key points of diagnosis, sensible investigation, and evidence‑based management in a single New Zealand‑focused resource. The aim is to support confident decision‑making, reduce unnecessary testing, and offer clear guidance you can use immediately in a busy clinic.

Ferritin remains the single most useful laboratory marker for assessing iron stores and is recommended by major international guidelines as the first-line test when iron deficiency is suspected. Ferritin <30 μg/L Iron deficiency is highly likely. In most clinical situations, a ferritin below 30 μg/L is considered diagnostic of iron deficiency. Ferritin 30–100 μg/L This is the grey zone. Iron deficiency may still be present, particularly when: Inflammation is present Obesity i

Why This Matters Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is now one of the most common liver conditions encountered in primary care. As rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to rise, incidental fatty liver on ultrasound has become an everyday finding. The challenge is no longer identifying patients with steatosis — it is identifying the minority at risk of advanced fibrosis and liver-related complications. Fortunately, most patients with MASLD

Why This Matters Few blood tests generate more uncertainty in primary care than an elevated ferritin. Many clinicians immediately think of hereditary haemochromatosis, yet approximately 90% of elevated ferritin results are not caused by iron overload. In modern practice, obesity, metabolic dysfunction, fatty liver disease, alcohol use and chronic inflammation are far more common explanations. The challenge is identifying the small minority of patients with clinically signific

Coeliac disease affects approximately 1% of the population, yet many patients remain undiagnosed for years. While traditionally associated with diarrhoea and malabsorption, modern coeliac disease frequently presents with iron deficiency anaemia, fatigue, bloating, osteoporosis, abnormal liver tests, and symptoms suggestive of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Diagnostic delays of 6–10 years remain common. Why This Matters in New Zealand In primary care, coeliac disease often hi