Optimizing Diabetic Care in the Setting of Acute Coronary Syndromes

November 29, 2006

Instructions 

Steven P. Marso, MD Clinical Scholar Mid America Heart Institute Associate Professor of Medicine University of Missouri Kansas City Kansas City, Missouri	Darren K. McGuire, MD MHSc Assistant Professor of Medicine University of Texas Southwestern Dallas, Texas
James E. Tcheng, MD Associate Professor of Medicine Duke Clinical Research Institute Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina	Paul Gurbel, MD Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research Associate Professor of Medicine Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland

CME Credits: 1.75

Program Overview
Diabetic patients are at elevated risk of cardiovascular events. In fact, it is estimated that mortality from cardiovascular complications approaches 70% in diabetic patients. In spite of this statistic, there is a lack of knowledge among healthcare practitioners about effective therapies for these patients, as evidenced by a survey of diabetic patients conducted by the American Diabetes Association in 2001. Among findings from this survey, one-half of patients indicated that their healthcare provider never discussed the importance of lowering blood pressure or cholesterol and one-third indicated that their healthcare provider did not discuss the importance of smoking cessation.

Diabetes is characterized by a prothrombotic state consisting of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and platelet activation. Thus, diabetic patients are at increased risk for acute coronary syndromes (ACS), defined as myocardial infarction or unstable angina. Diabetic-ACS patients are also at elevated risk of both short- and long-term mortality following an index event, including a nearly 50% greater risk of mortality at 1-year. Although several acute-phase treatment strategies such as percutaneous coronary intervention and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade have been shown to be particularly efficacious in reducing morbid and mortal events in diabetic patients, these strategies continue to be underutilized in this population.

The purpose of this program is to increase awareness of the elevated risk of acute coronary events in diabetic patients and optimal treatment strategies to reduce risk of recurrent events.

Learning Objectives
After participating in this activity, you will be able to:

• Recognize the increased risk of acute coronary syndromes in patients with diabetes
• Review the unique features of atherosclerosis in the diabetic population leading to acute coronary syndromes
• Evaluate the optimal adjunctive pharmacologic strategy among diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes
• Summarize the pathobiology of diabetic platelet dysfunction and the role of anti-platelet therapy in the treatment of diabetic patients

Target Audience
This activity is intended for cardiologists, diabetologists, endocrinologists, and primary care physicians involved in the care of diabetic patients

ACCME Accreditation/Designation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Primary Care Network and DiaVed, Inc. Primary Care Network is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Primary Care Network designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Release date: November 29, 2006
Expiration date: November 29, 2007

Primary Care Network Disclosure
It is the policy of Primary Care Network, Inc. to ensure fair balance, independence, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all its CME activities. All faculty participating in the programs are expected to disclose to the participants any relationship with commercial companies, those supporting the activity of any others whose products or services may be discussed. The following information is for participants only. It is not assumed that these relationships will have negative impact on the presentations.

Commercial Support
This program is supported through an educational grant from Schering-Plough.

Faculty Disclosure
Dr. McGuire has received research support from GlaxoSmithKline and is on the speaker's bureau for Pfizer.

Dr. Marso has received research grants from Abbott and Volcano Corporation

Dr. Tcheng has received research support or honoraria or is on the advisory board or speaker's bureau for Bristol Myers Squibb, Centocor, Cordis, Eli Lilly, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Guidant, HealthGate, Key Pharmaceuticals, Medicines Co., Medtronic, Merck, Millennium, Pharmanetics, Philips Medical, Sanofi Aventis, Schering Plough, TIMI3 Systems, and VDDI

Dr. Gurbel has received research support or honoraria or is on the advisory board or speaker's bureau for AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Schering-Plough


Hardware/Software Requirements: Internet connection and PC-compatible web browser (Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater recommended) and Adobe Flash Player 6.0r79 or greater. To download a free copy of Flash Player, click here.

Click here for privacy policy

For questions or problems with this activity, contact us

Copyright 2006 DiaVed, Inc. All rights reserved.

Launch CME