A decade ago, it was envisaged that the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension would eventually eliminate coronary heart disease; however, that goal has not yet been realized. In 2006, the estimated costs associated with coronary heart disease in the US exceeded $145 billion. Despite the availability of lipid-lowering agents, cardiovascular disease continues to be one of the leading causes of mortality in the US and worldwide, owing to a rising incidence of obesity and diabetes, among other factors. This CaseLink will revisit coronary heart disease, discuss the underlying risks, and present strategies for prevention and treatment.

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

• Recognize the types and levels of lipids that contribute to increased coronary heart disease risk
• Differentiate the factors that contribute to residual risk, including HDL-C and TG
• Assess the effect of therapies that focus on lowering LDL-C versus therapies that are directed toward managing dyslipidemia as whole (ie, “the lipid triad”) in the form of raising HDL-C and lowering serum TG through single-agent and/or combination treatment
• Discuss the role of physicians and other members of the health management team in coordinating patient care and ensuring optimal treatment of dyslipidemia

David S. Kountz, MD, FACP
Associate Professor of Medicine
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
New Brunswick, NJ

The Chatham Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Chatham Institute designates this educational activity for 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

It is the policy of The Chatham Institute to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. All faculty, planners, and managers who affect the content of medical education activities sponsored by The Chatham Institute are required to disclose to the audience any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the activity. Faculty, planners, and managers not complying with the disclosure policy will not be permitted to participate in this activity.

Program faculty and planners have disclosed the financial relationships with commercial interests cited below. All program content has been peer reviewed for balance and any potential bias. The conflict of interest resolution process aims to ensure that financial relationships with commercial interests and resultant loyalties do not supersede the public interest in the design and delivery of continuing medical education activities for the profession.

David S. Kountz, MD, FACP
No real or apparent financial relationships to disclose

Bagirathy Ravishankar, PhD
Scientific Director, The Chatham Institute
No real or apparent financial relationships to disclose

Independent peer reviewers have nothing to disclose

This activity is sponsored by The Chatham Institute and supported by an educational grant from Abbott Laboratories.