PROACTIVE CARDIOVASCULAR PROTECTION ALONG THE CARDIAC CONTINUUM: UNDERSTANDING RISK TO OPTIMIZE PREVENTION

Abstract

Therapeutic Area

ASCVD/CVD Risk Assessment

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Understanding the cardiac risk continuum and leveraging advanced risk assessment techniques are crucial for optimizing primary prevention strategies. This educational program aimed to enhance healthcare providers’ (HCPs) knowledge and competence in cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of an online continuing medical education (CME) program on improving the knowledge, competence, and confidence of cardiologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) in identifying and mitigating cardiovascular risk along the cardiac continuum. Post-education assessments demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge and competence:

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  Cardiac Risk Continuum Awareness: 21% of cardiologists and 22% of PCPs improved their understanding of the progression from primary to secondary prevention (P < .001).
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  Image-Guided Cardiovascular Risk Assessment: 13% of cardiologists and 17% of PCPs improved their understanding of the role of image-guided cardiovascular risk techniques in the primary prevention setting (P < .001).
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  Competence in Risk-Based Treatment Decisions: 13% of cardiologists and 15% of PCPs improved their ability to integrate risk stratification tools into treatment planning (P < .001).
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  Confidence Gains: Post-education, 41% of cardiologists and 21% of PCPs reported feeling “mostly” or “very confident” in tailoring primary prevention strategies.

Conclusions

The CME program significantly enhanced clinicians' knowledge and confidence in cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention. These findings underscore the value of targeted education in improving evidence-based clinical decision-making for primary cardiovascular prevention. Continued educational efforts are recommended to bridge gaps in practice and optimize patient outcomes.