Management of Patients Following Acute Coronary Syndrome

Who Should Attend: 

All primary care clinicians (physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners) who are active in patient care.

Overview

The mortality associated with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is very high. A recent report from the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/ American Heart Association (AHA) stated that the outcomes of patients with non-ST segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) and ST segment elevation MI (STEMI) are not as good as they could be with more effective and widespread application of the best scientific knowledge to the care of these patients. AHA estimates that as many as 80,000 lives could be saved annually by closing the gap in guideline adherence; specifically by increasing risk assessment and stratification and prescribing and/or following up on β-blocker, ACEI, statin, aspirin, and thienopyridine therapy compliance.

This case-based educational initiative will highlight the role of primary care clinicians in caring for patients with ACS and will focus on modifiable risk factors for ACS and strategies to quickly and successfully address these issues with patients to prevent ACS and stratify risk for coronary events. To create a general awareness of antiplatelet therapies among primary care clinicians, the initiative will include a brief overview of the safety and efficacy of antiplatelet medications, rationale for dual antiplatelet therapy, mechanisms of platelet activation and inhibition, and response variability associated with genetic polymorphisms, underdosing, and drug-drug interactions. Medication compliance and appropriate length of therapy according to ACC/AHA/Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) guidelines will also be a key focus, followed by strategies for the primary care clinician to create a collaborative management approach with cardiologists and cardiac rehabilitation centers for patients post-MI. The overall goal of the educational initiative is to provide primary care clinicians with evidence-based information to ensure continuity of care for patients with ACS and to provide them with tools and techniques to increase their confidence to effectively manage patients with ACS, ultimately improving the event-free survival of patients.

Commercial Supporter:

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Daiichi Sankyo, Inc, and Lilly USA, LLC.

Learning Objectives:

1) Manage the modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors of patients with predisposition for primary or secondary CHD, according to the ACC/AHA guideline recommendation

2) Discuss with patients the purpose and potential side effects of dual antiplatelet therapy according to evidence from clinical trials

3) Identify factors associated with antiplatelet therapy response variability including under-dosing, genetic polymorphisms, and drug-drug interaction

4) Ensure that patients are started on and remain adherent with statin, β-blocker, inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis, aspirin, and thienopyridine therapy in the setting of post-ACS according to ACC/AHA/SCAI guidelines to reduce risk for reinfarction and mortality

5) Participate collaboratively and effectively as part of the multidisciplinary team for patients with ACS

Accreditation: ACCME

Primary Care Network is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Primary Care Network designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.