Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Uprooting Misperceptions and Therapeutic Inertia in Lipid Management

Statement of Need

Despite guideline familiarity and awareness of lipid-lowering targets, many clinicians fail to translate this knowledge into clinical action, leaving patients at elevated risk for cardiovascular events. A key driver of this disconnect is therapeutic inertia—particularly regarding risk assessment, intensification of statin therapy, and adoption of non-statin options such as PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9is) and inclisiran. Misperceptions persist around statin intolerance, the safety of very low LDL-C levels, and the role of aggressive lipid management across diverse populations including women, younger adults, and patients with peripheral artery disease or cerebrovascular disease.

Clinicians also frequently overlook the additive ASCVD risk of elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], despite its independent, genetically determined role in atherosclerosis and the growing body of data supporting one-time screening and targeted therapy. New therapies in development, including siRNA and antisense oligonucleotides, further complicate treatment decisions and highlight the need for timely, expert-led education. In this CME Outfitters recorded webcast, expert faculty will propose a curriculum that combats inertia by dispelling persistent myths, clarifying evidence-based strategies, and empowering clinicians to implement current and emerging therapies in everyday practice to improve lipid outcomes and reduce ASCVD-related morbidity and mortality.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to better:

Evaluate common misperceptions clinicians have regarding lipid management
Identify the roles of LDL-C and Lp(a) in atherosclerotic disease
Incorporate current guidance to optimize lipid management in clinical practice
Assess the potential role of emerging non-statin therapies in lipid management

Financial Support

This activity is supported through an independent educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

Target Audience

Primary care clinicians and specialists treating dyslipidemia (cardiology settings) including physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), physician associates (PAs), nurses and pharmacists

Credit Information

Jointly Accredited Provider

In support of improving patient care, CME Outfitters, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians (ACCME) 1.0

CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacists (ACPE) 1.0

This application-based activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours (0.1 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy credit (JA0007185-0000-25-075-H01-P).

Nurses (ANCC) 1.0

This activity is designated for 1.00 contact hours.

California Residents: Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 15510, for 1.00 Contact Hours.

Note to Nurse Practitioners: The content of this CNE activity pertains to Pharmacology.

Physician Assistants (AAPA): 1.00

CME Outfitters, LLC, has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 09/23/2026. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

ABIM MOC 1.0

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

MIPS Improvement Activity

Completion of this accredited CME activity meets the expectations of an Accredited Safety or Quality Improvement Program (IA_PSPA_28) for the Merit-based Incentive Payment Program (MIPS). Clinicians should submit their improvement activities by attestation via the CMS Quality Payment Program website.

Royal College MOC

Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

Disclosure Declaration

It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all of their CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, or with the commercial supporter of this CE activity. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and mitigated any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that these relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.

Dr. Ballantyne reports the following financial relationships:

Consultant: 89Bio, Inc.; Abbott Diagnostics; Amgen Inc.; Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; AstraZeneca; Denka Seiken; Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.; Genentech, Inc.; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Lilly; Merck & Co., Inc.; NewAmsterdam Pharma; Novartis; Novo Nordisk; and Roche Diagnostic

Grants: Abbott Diagnostics; Akcea Therapeutics; American Diabetes Association (ADA); American Heart Association (AHA); Amgen Inc.; Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Ionis; Lilly; Merck & Co., Inc.; National Institutes of Health (NIH); New Amsterdam Pharma; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Novo Nordisk; and Roche Diagnostic

Dr. Toth reports the following financial relationships:

Consultant: Merck & Co., Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (unpaid)

Speakers Bureau: Amgen Inc.; Lilly; and Novo Nordisk

The following individuals have no financial relationships to disclose:

Thai Nguyen, MD, MHA (Peer Reviewer)
Shirley Michelle Franks, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC (Peer Reviewer)
Thomas Mitchell, MSW, LSW (Planning Committee)
Carrie Allen, PharmD, BCPS (Planning Committee)
Scott J. Hershman, MD, FACEHP, CHCP (Planning Committee)
Sandra Caballero, PharmD (Planning Committee)
Sharon Tordoff (Planning Committee)

*All identified conflicts of interest have been mitigated.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure
Faculty of this CME/CE activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. The faculty have been informed of their responsibility to disclose to the audience if they will be discussing off-label or investigational uses (any uses not approved by the FDA) of products or devices. CME Outfitters, LLC, the faculty, planners, and reviewers do not endorse the use of any product outside of the FDA labeled indications. Medical professionals should not utilize the procedures, products, or diagnosis techniques discussed during this activity without evaluation of their patient for contraindications or dangers of use.

Obtaining Credit

Post-tests, credit request forms, and activity evaluations must be completed online (requires free account activation), and participants can print their certificate or statement of credit immediately (70% pass rate required). This website supports all browsers except Internet Explorer for Mac.

Questions about this activity?

Call us at 877.CME.PROS (877.263.7767).

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