Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are a major contributor to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Despite updated guidelines that provide new guidance on ASCVD prevention, including LDL-C threshold levels for treatment, mean LDL-C levels in the US continue to rise. To help cardiologists incorporate the new guidelines and new agents into clinical practice, Rockpointe and the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have launched a free CME/MOC-eligible webcourse that will be available until Feb. 26, 2022.
In 2018, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) jointly published an updated guideline on blood cholesterol management, providing new guidance on primary and secondary ASCVD prevention including LDL-C threshold levels for treatment and outlining the role of more recently approved agents. In addition, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) published guidelines in 2019 that recommended lower LDL-C goal levels, a new definition of high-risk patients that expanded the number of patients in this group, and more aggressive use of non-statin agents compared to the 2018 ACC/AHA guidelines.
To achieve the AHA’s 2030 impact goal to “equitably increase healthy life expectancy beyond current projections,” the new guidelines and new agents will need to be incorporated into clinical practice. Managing Elevated LDL-C: New Guidelines and New Agents is an hour-long CME webcourse geared toward cardiologists, the clinicians responsible for identifying and managing patients who would benefit from LDL-C lowering. The program will provide participants with information about the new guidelines, expert opinion on the role of agents recently approved by the FDA after the guideline publication, and a review of results from trials of agents in late-stage development.
This free educational initiative is designed to address ACGME and NAM competencies, including delivering patient-centered care and practicing evidence-based medicine. At the conclusion of the activity, participants should be able to:
• Provide individualized primary prevention plans for patients with elevated LDL-C levels using the 2018 cholesterol guidelines.
• Develop individualized secondary prevention strategies for patients with elevated LDL-C levels based on recommendations in the 2018 cholesterol guidelines.
• Employ adjunctive non-statin agents to intensify LDL-C management when statins alone do not achieve 2018 blood cholesterol guideline goals.
• Evaluate the most current efficacy and safety data for non-statin agents approved for managing elevated LDL-C.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Rockpointe. BUSM, which is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians, designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables participants to earn up to 1.0 Medical Knowledge MOC point in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part 2 program.
In addition, successful completion of this CME webcourse qualifies MIPS-eligible clinicians to earn 1.0 MIPS Improvement Activity credit under MACRA.
There is no fee for this activity, which is conducted in collaboration with the Foundation of the National Lipid Association and is supported by educational grants from Amgen and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. To receive credit, participants must register, view the CME activity in its entirety, and then complete the post-test, with a score of 75% or better, and evaluation. The estimated time for completion of this activity is one hour. To receive a certificate, participants must demonstrate mastery of the presented material via the post-test. Participants are allowed to take the post-test multiple times.
Through effective continuing medical education, Rockpointe strives to improve and advance the quality of patient care. Its educational programs have been at the forefront of new issues in healthcare, such as managing challenges posed by COVID-19, addressing racial disparities in care, and combating the nation’s opioid crisis.
As part of its commitment to quality, Rockpointe works to inform the continuing-education community of significant quality-improvement issues through news and analysis on Policy and Medicine. In addition, its popular Medical Education Exchange (MEDX) CME regional meetings include sessions on the basics of quality improvement and alternative payment models, as well as relevant and scientifically accurate sessions on numerous disease states. All sessions include links back to associated National Quality Priorities to reinforce the bigger picture and the triple aim of: 1) improving health and 2) lowering cost to 3) better the patient experience. At Rockpointe, education equals quality.
To register for Managing Elevated LDL-C: New Guidelines and New Agents, go to https://www.rockpointe.com/courses/managing-elevated-ldl-c-new-guidelines-and-new-agents-2/ or click here.
