• Is LDL-C Lowering Sufficient
  • CMEVIDEO

  • Is LDL-C Lowering Sufficient? Evaluating Residual CVD Risk with a Focus on TG and non-HDL-C

  • Author(s)/Faculty: Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, FACC, FCCP, FAHA; Sergio Fazio, MD, PhD; Michael Miller, MD, FACC, FAHA
    Source: Cardiology Today
    Type: Multimedia Articles/Items: 5
    Release Date: 3/28/2012 Expiration Date: 3/27/2013
    Credit Type: CME Number of Credit(s): 2
    Cost: Free Provider: Vindico Medical Education

  • Although statins significantly reduce LDL-C levels, patients still have a considerable residual risk related to their dyslipidemia. Several studies have shown that non-HDL-C levels and elevated triglyceride levels are predictive of cardiovascular events, independent of LDL-C levels, suggesting targets for therapeutic interventions to reverse atherosclerosis. Some patient populations, such as those with the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease and certain ethnic groups are at even greater risk. Lifestyle changes have been shown to provide some benefit, but patients at elevated risk will likely require pharmacological therapy, such as fenofibrates, niacin, omega-3 acid ethyl esters and gemfibrozil in combination with statin therapy to reduce their atherosclerotic burden.

Expert Interview #1: Michael Miller, MD – Understanding and Treating Hypertriglyceridemia

Expert Interview #2: Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, FACC, FCCP, FAHA – Defining non-HDL-C and its Impact on Cardiovascular Risk

Expert Interview #3: Sergio Fazio, MD, Phd – Managing Cardiovascular Risk in the Context of Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes


Sponsorship Statement: This continuing medical education activity is sponsored by .

Support Statement: This activity is supported by an educational grant from .

Target Audience: The intended audience for this activity is cardiologists, internists, family practitioners and other health care professionals in the treatment of patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this activity participants should be able to:

  1. Describe the contributions of increased non-HDL cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia as well as low HDL-C to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.
  2. Identify current guidelines on non-HDL cholesterol and triglyceride targets for patients at risk for cardiovascular disease.
  3. Evaluate new guidelines for therapeutic lifestyle interventions aimed at reducing triglyceride levels and increasing HDL levels in individuals with borderline-high, high, and very high serum triglycerides.
  4. Discuss the rationale for the use of combination therapies to target elevated non-HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
  5. List options for targeting elevated non-HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels without adversely affecting other lipid parameters, lowering LDL-C, decreasing markers of inflammation and minimizing drug interactions.

Moderator:
Michael Miller, MD, FACC, FAHA
Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology & Public Health
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Director, Center for Preventive Cardiology
University of Maryland Medical Center
Cardiology Division
Baltimore, Maryland

Faculty:
Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, FACC, FCCP, FAHA
Section Editor, CHD and Prevention
Cardiology Today® Professor of Medicine
Director
Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease
Baltimore, Maryland

Sergio Fazio, MD, PhD
Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Medicine and
Professor of Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology
Chief, Section of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee

Accreditation:
Vindico Medical Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation:
Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, March 28, 2012 to March 27, 2013.

How To Participate in this Activity and Obtain CME Credit:
To participate in this CME activity, you must read the objectives, answer the pretest questions, watch the presentations, complete the CME posttest, and complete the evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 4 out of 6 of the posttest questions correctly. Upon receipt of the completed materials, if a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ that will be e-mailed to the participant.

Planning Committee and Faculty:
Michael Miller, MD, FACC, FAHA
Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, FACC, FCCP, FAHA
Sergio Fazio, MD, PhD

External Reviewer:
Vera Bittner, MD

Disclosures:
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Standards for Commercial Support, all CME providers are required to disclose to the activity audience the relevant financial relationships of the planners, teachers, and authors involved in the development of CME content. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if he or she has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the CME activity content over which the individual has control. Relationship information appears on this page and the next page.

The authors disclose that they do have significant financial interests in any products or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity, including research support.

Planning Committee and Faculty members report the following relationship(s):

Michael Miller, MD, FACC, FAHA
Consulting Fees: Abbott, Lupin, Amarin
Fees for Non-CME Services directly from Commerical Interest: Merck
Contracted Research: Abbott, Merck Roche

Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, FACC, FCCP, FAHA
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Sergio Fazio, MD, PhD
Consulting Fees: Merck, Pfizer, Kowa, Roche, Amarin
Contracted Research: Pfizer, Merck

External Reviewer reports the following relationship(s):

Vera Bittner, MD
Consulting Fees: Amarin, Kowa, Roche, Pfizer
Contracted Research: GSK, Roche, NIH/Abbott, Gilead
Other: National Coordinator for ALECARDIO trial: Roche/Cleveland Clinic

Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relationship(s):

No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.

Unlabeled and Investigational Usage:

The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of FDA-approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non-FDA approved or investigational use of products/devices.

Copyright Statement:
Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2012 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any of Vindico Medical Education continuing medical education activities does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.