Understanding how lipids and lipoproteins are formed, metabolized, and cleared is essential for accurate lipid interpretation and cardiovascular risk assessment. Hear from Dr. Robert Eckel as he explains these molecular mechanisms and implications for patient management. Dr. Eckel is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine with a primary appointment in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes with a joint appointment in Cardiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, where he was previously the Charles A. Boettcher II Chair in Atherosclerosis. He's also the former President of the American Heart Association, Obesity Society, and American Diabetes Association.

Sex-based differences in lipid metabolism can have critical impacts on cardiovascular risk assessment and treatment. Hear from Dr. Connie Newman as she explains why understanding lipid metabolism in women is essential for accurate risk stratification and optimal treatment decisions. Dr. Newman is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in women, yet it is often underrecognized due to gender bias in healthcare. Hear from Dr. Connie Newman as she explores the impact of bias on cardiovascular risk perception, highlights the importance of lipid and Lp(a) screening, and reviews evidence-based statin therapy strategies to improve outcomes for women. Dr. Newman is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Effective lipid management depends on identifying how specific dietary factors drive LDL cholesterol and triglyceride elevations. Dr. Robert Eckel shares evidence-based strategies for tailoring nutrition recommendations in patients with hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Dr. Eckel is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine with a primary appointment in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes with a joint appointment in Cardiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, where he was previously the Charles A. Boettcher II Chair in Atherosclerosis. He's also the former President of the American Heart Association, Obesity Society, and American Diabetes Association.

Statin intolerance, though uncommon, presents a challenge for patients who experience persistent side effects despite adjustments in dosing or switching statins. Dr. Matthew Sorrentino reviews evidence-baesd alternatives, shares insights on practical use in clinical care, and highlights the latest advances in lipoprotein (a)–targeted therapies now in late-stage development. Dr. Sorrentino is a Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair for Clinical Operations in the Section of Cardiology at University of Chicago Medicine.

Effective management of hyperlipidemia requires tailoring treatment to a patient’s cardiovascular risk profile. Lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone of care, while high-risk patients often require pharmacotherapy. Dr. Keith Ferdinand shares evidence-based strategies for reducing LDL and addressing comorbidities while engaging patients in shared decision making. Dr. Ferdinand is a Professor of Medicine as well as the Gerald S. Berenson Chair in Preventative Cardiology and Director of Preventative Cardiology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Despite advances in lipid-lowering therapies, disparities in hyperlipidemia diagnosis and treatment persist. Dr. Keith Ferdinand examines how social drivers of health impact access, adherence, and outcomes and explains how clinicians can help address gaps in care for underserved populations. Dr. Ferdinand is a Professor of Medicine as well as the Gerald S. Berenson Chair in Preventative Cardiology and Director of Preventative Cardiology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

This on-demand knowledge primer explores key challenges and evidence-based strategies for improving atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) management in rural populations. Led by two expert faculty members, the program provides a comprehensive overview of disparities in ASCVD care, guideline-directed therapies, and practical approaches to overcoming barriers in rural settings. Participants will gain essential knowledge to enhance patient outcomes and optimize cardiovascular care in underserved communities.

A concerning number of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) reached suboptimal LDL-C levels between 2021 and 2022. Even with new strategies that can help lower LDL-C, an analysis of over 3 million ASCVD patients in the Family Heart Database shows that these treatments are not being properly utilized. Join Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand as he delves into an analysis of management trends among these patients, which he presented at the 2024 Family Heart Foundation Global Summit. Dr. Ferdinand is a Professor of Medicine and the Gerald S. Berenson Endowed Chair in Preventative Cardiology at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Amyloidosis, often unrecognized, misdiagnosed, and either inappropriately treated or undertreated, is a collection of diseases caused by the misfolding of proteins that aggregate into insoluble amyloid fibrils and deposit in tissues. There are two prominent forms of amyloidosis misfolding of light chain proteins (AL amyloidosis) and transthyretin protein misfolding (ATTR amyloidosis). In this program, two experts in amyloidosis, cardiologist Dr. Noel Dasgupta and neurologist Dr. Sami Khella, will explain the pathophysiology of amyloidosis, describe the prognosis for patients, discuss timely patient screening and diagnostic testing, and provide updated treatment options.

Many different artificial sweeteners are being consumed by patients; however, this discussion will focus on research around one that has been used in the food industry for a long time, called erythritol. Interestingly, it was found that patients with cardiac problems had the highest levels of erythritol levels in their blood, which prompted further studies on this association. So to learn more about the impact of artificial sweeteners on heart disease and how we can guide patients into consuming less, join Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley as she speaks with Dr. Wilson Tang, Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Co-Author of the article, titled “The Artificial Sweetener Erythritol and Cardiovascular Event Risk,” published in Nature Medicine in February 2023.

There’s a decent amount of evidence showing allergic immune responses could have connections with heart disease. But with the knowledge gaps that exist, a need for bigger cohorts is necessary to get more information and data. So to explore the link between allergic reactions from food and heart disease, Dr. Javed Butler is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, Allergist and Immunologist in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology at the University of Virginia.

The American Heart Association recommends physical activity to help lower the risk of heart failure, but how much exercise is needed, especially for older women, to lower that risk? According to a recent study, even just low-intensity exercise for 30 minutes is associated with a 25 percent lower risk of overall heart failure. Dive further into the findings with Dr. Javed Butler and Dr. Michael LaMonte, a Research Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the University of Buffalo.

For the first time, the American Heart Association (AHA) has identified cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, which reflects a strong overlap between heart disease, kidney disease, and obesity. The major clinical consequence of CKM syndrome is multi-organ dysfunction with a particularly high incidence and burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the result of this is premature morbidity and mortality. So as a result, recognizing CKM syndrome is the first step in earlier diagnosis and treatment. Dive into this episode with Dr. Javed Butler who’s joined by Dr. Chiadi Ndumele, Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research at Johns Hopkins University.

What would the cost-effectiveness look like if the uptake of a pharmacist-prescribing model for hypertension were to be put into practice? A new study shows that a pharmacist-prescribing method could have significant economic impact on the U.S. healthcare system. Dive in with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley as she speaks with Dr. Dave Dixon, Nancy L. and Ronald H. McFarlane Professor of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, to discuss the findings from the study, titled “Cost-Effectiveness of Pharmacist Prescribing for Managing Hypertension in the United States,” which was published in JAMA Network.

There’s no approved therapies specifically targeting obesity and HFpEF, but based on the STEP-HFpEF study that was presented at the 2023 ESC Congress, the treatment option semaglutide improves heart failure-related symptoms, physical function, and weight loss among patients with HFpEF and obesity. Here to walk through the study’s key findings with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is fellow ReachMD host, Dr. Javed Butler, President of Baylor Scott and White Research Institute in Dallas, Texas.

The risk of cardiovascular disease is twice as great among patients living with HIV, and this could partly be due to traditional risk factors, along with nontraditional risk factors. Here to discuss the results from the REPRIEVE study with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is Dr. Steve Grinspoon, Co-Principal Investigator and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

The National Lipid Association (NLA) recently published updated recommendations for lifestyle therapies to manage three common dyslipidemias in adults. To discuss this, Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is joined by Dr. Carol Kirkpatrick, Clinical Lipid Specialist and Clinical Scientist at Midwest Biomedical Research.

Many studies over the last few years have shown that the risks of cardiovascular disease have increased between 50 to 100 percent among patients with HIV. So what steps need to be taken to help reduce this risk for our patients? Here to discuss what we need to know is Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley and Dr. Steven Grinspoon, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Metabolism Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Learn which patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) would benefit from this group of medication. In this episode, Dr. Alan Brown is joined by Dr. Maya Safarova, Chief Fellow in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, to discuss the benefits of non-statin LDL lowering therapies.