From Guideline to Practice: Recent Episodes
ReachMD
This CME series provides primary care professionals with the knowledge and skill sets needed to effectively provide standard-of-care medicine within the constraints of a busy office setting. Faculty therapeutic area experts address how to overcome barriers preventing optimal patient outcomes by improving guideline adherence, and optimizing practice performance in areas where guidelines are needed.
Host: Peter van der Meer, MD, PhD
Guest: Pieter Martens, MD, PhD
Iron deficiency (ID), independent of anemia status, is common in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). In normal cardiac physiology, contractility increases disproportionally to heart rate; however, in HFrEF and concomitant ID, this response is impaired. Additionally, HFrEF patients with ID who receive cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) exhibit diminished cardiac reverse remodeling after CRT implant.
In this discussion, Drs. Martens and van der Meer discuss how physicians can work to improve reverse cardiac remodeling, the force-frequency relationship, and quality of life in patients with HFrEF and ID receiving CRT.
Host: George L. Bakris, MD
Guest: Giuseppe M.C. Rosano, MD, PhD, FESC, FHFA
Hyperkalemia is common in chronic heart failure and is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and death. The incidence is further elevated in those with chronic kidney disease, and the presence of hyperkalemia can often lead to clinical delay and suboptimal dosing of RAAS inhibitors in these patients.
Join the discussion as Drs. George Bakris and Giuseppe Rosano examine the management of hyperkalemia in patients with HF and provide individualized approaches for optimizing RAASi therapy. Collaboration between nephrologists and cardiologists is key, and these experts make sure to stress the strong connection between the heart and kidneys when managing these patients.
Host: Gregg C. Fonarow, MD
Guest: Andrew J. S. Coats, MD
Rapid initiation and up-titration of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi) therapy is critical in the management of heart failure, especially given the prevalence of comorbid conditions, such as recurrent hyperkalemia, in these patients. To improve patient outcomes, it is crucial that physicians avoid any unnecessary halting or dose reductions to these medications.
In this discussion, Drs. Coats and Fonarow review updates to the ESC/HFA guidelines and explain how these changes affect patient care. Find out how to maintain optimal RAASi therapy for your patients with heart failure in the face of their challenging comorbidities.
Host: Keith C. Ferdinand, MD
Guest: Marco Metra, MD
There is a substantial gap between the guideline recommendations for treatment and the real-world prescribing patterns of RAASi therapy. This disconnect results in worse cardiorenal outcomes and higher mortality in patients receiving suboptimal dosing. This is particularly true in patients with CKD who develop hyperkalemia, which constitutes the major barrier to optimal therapy.
In this activity, Drs. Ferdinand and Metra discuss how best to manage comorbidities, optimize RAASi therapy, and improve the long-term care for our patients with heart failure.
Host: Andrea Singer, MD, FACP, CCD
Guest: Paul A. Anderson, MD
Guest: Susan V. Bukata, MD, FAOA, FAAOS
While there’s growing awareness among orthopedic surgeons that osteoporosis is the underlying cause of fractures, there is often a disconnect between this recognition and action in the form of treatment to prevent subsequent fractures. In this discussion, Drs. Andrea Singer, Paul Anderson, and Susan Bukata address the pathophysiology of osteoporosis and the need to identify patients at risk for additional fractures. Osteoporosis treatment (including pharmacotherapy) can play a critical role in preventing future fractures, but physicians must first recognize that fracture is a sentinel event and treat it as a call to action.
Host: Erin D. Michos, MD, MHS, FACC, FAHA, FASE
Guest: James A. Underberg, MD
Guest: Nathan D. Wong, PhD, MPH
This activity is presented by outstanding educators in the field of lipidology and preventive cardiology. Join Drs. Erin D. Michos, James A. Underberg, and Nathan D. Wong for a deep dive into these hot topics: new pathways to manage high risk in ASCVD, differential biological effects of omega-3 fatty acids, and practical considerations to manage ASCVD risk.