Program #877 • Available Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ through Friday, December 30, 2011

Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

 

Program Description

Clinical risk assessment tools such as the Framingham risk score are used to identify patients at low, intermediate, or high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. New approaches to risk stratification go beyond the standard risk factor assessment (eg, age, sex, blood pressure, smoking, lipids) to include measurement of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to detect subclinical atherosclerosis, evaluation for metabolic syndrome, and imaging for preclinical vascular disease. Noninvasive detection of atherosclerosis provides a direct and individualized patient-specific approach to assessing the presence of low-, intermediate-, or high-risk subsets. Although atherosclerosis develops over decades, it is typically asymptomatic in many individuals until it is quite advanced. The goal is to identify the at-risk patient and intervene before the patient develops an event. Emerging modalities for detecting preclinical vascular disease, such as computed tomographic evaluation of coronary artery calcium and carotid ultrasonography, help to further define a group of patients who warrant more aggressive intervention with either medication or, potentially, revascularization interventions. Management of global cardiovascular risk requires extensive and comprehensive risk evaluation using traditional and newer assessment tools and aggressive treatment of multiple risk factors.

(60 minutes)

Credit Information

Up to 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

This activity is designed for primary care physicians, cardiologists, and other healthcare professionals interested in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Learning Objectives

After taking part in this CME activity, participants should be able to:

CME Credit Designations

ACCME The Network for Continuing Medical Education (NCME) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA NCME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAFP This activity has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 1 Prescribed credit by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins Friday, December 30, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date, with option for yearly renewal.

AOA This activity is eligible for up to 1 hour of credit in Category 2-A of the American Osteopathic Association.