375. Beyond the Boards: Foundations of Cardiovascular Prevention with Dr. Stephen Kopecky

CardioNerds (Amit Goyal and Dan Ambinder), Dr. Jaya Kanduri, and Dr. Jason Feinman discuss foundations of cardiovascular prevention with Dr. Stephen Kopecky. In this episode, the CardioNerds and topic expert Dr. Stephen Kopecky tackle cardiovascular prevention. They focus on how to identify patients at risk for cardiovascular disease by using the pooled cohort equation and discuss how to incorporate additional risk-enhancing factors in risk estimation. Later, they discuss the role of non-invasive imaging and testing for further patient risk stratification. Last, they discuss the appropriate pharmacologic interventions for patient care, how to determine what LDL-c to target for each patient, and how to modify your treatment modalities in response to side effects or the need for further lipid-lowering therapies.



Notes were drafted by Dr. Jason Feinman. Audio was engineered by CardioNerds Intern Christiana Dangas.



The CardioNerds Beyond the Boards Series was inspired by the Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Board Review Course and designed in collaboration with the course directors Dr. Amy Pollak, Dr. Jeffrey Geske, and Dr. Michael Cullen.











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Pearls and Quotes - Foundations of Cardiovascular Prevention




The 2018 cardiovascular prevention guidelines indicate that a single equation, like the pooled risk equation, does not fit everyone. There are additional risk enhancers that are not factored into the pooled risk equation that can impact an individual’s risk



These factors are often conditions that increase inflammation but can also include family history, ethnicity, chronic kidney disease, metabolic syndrome, premature menopause or gestational diabetes, and rheumatologic conditions



Data from Get With The Guidelines demonstrates that the average LDL at the time of the first myocardial infarction is 105 mg/dL.



Coronary artery calcium scores or a carotid ultrasound can be used to further risk stratify patients. However, CAC is likely to be negative in young women. A CAC of zero can be used to “de-risk” some patients but should not be used to guide therapy in the setting of tobacco usage, diabetes mellitus, or familial hypercholesterolemia.



Strategies to mitigate risk include healthy lifestyle habits and selectively targeting key risk factors including LDL, hypertriglyceridemia, inflammation, and the GLP1-pathway. Upcoming medications may address elevated Lp(a).




Notes - Foundations of Cardiovascular Prevention



Notes: Notes drafted by Dr. Jason Feinman.



How do you assess an individual's risk for cardiovascular disease?




The paramount role of primary prevention is the assessment and mitigation of an individual’s risk for ASCVD event.1



The 10-year ASCVD risk calculator is a commonly used tool to assess an individual’s risk and to guide shared decision-making conversations and recommendations.2



Individuals can be characterized as having low (less than 5%), borderline (5%-7.5%), intermediate (7.5%-20%), or high (greater than 20%) risk.2



The 10-year ASCVD risk calculator has varying validation in ethnic minorities, and other risk calculators, such as the Framingham CVD risk score, may be considered in those groups.3-5



Additional risk enhancers may be used to guide recommendations for individuals at borderline or intermediate risk.1




What additional imaging testing may be beneficial in the assessment of an individual’s risk?




Individuals with intermediate or borderline risk may benefit from further non-invasive imaging to help guide therapeutic recommendations.2



Coronary artery calcification is a marker of underlying atherosclerosis, which can help to reclassify patients to be at higher risk for ASCVD events and support interventions to help lower t...