Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of cardiologists and other physicians and clinicians who treat lipid disorders and cardiovascular disease.

Program Overview

Currently, available interventions for dyslipidemia have significantly decreased cardiovascular (CV) risk and reduced major CV events; however, residual risk remains in some patients despite maintaining a low LDL-C. Cardiologists are tasked with the challenge of identifying these patients and implementing additional treatment strategies to increase HDL-C and minimize this risk. This case-based activity has been planned and developed for cardiologists and will highlight recent clinical trials, identify the most useful indicators and lab parameters for determining patient risk, and provide a perspective on current and emerging treatment options to mitigate residual CV risk. Important patient considerations and issues relating to primary prevention, coronary bypass, and acute coronary syndromes will be presented. The cases and time allotted for Q&A will provide faculty and participants the opportunity to discuss the most common treatment dilemmas and challenges encountered by cardiologists when making treatment decisions in patients with low, intermediate, and high risk for CV events.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Identify the presence of residual risk in patients at risk for CV events
• Recognize traditional and emerging risk markers for atherosclerotic CV disease
• Describe how increasing HDLs in patients at high risk for CV disease can improve outcomes
• Review current and investigational drugs for improving lipid profiles and outcomes