Most physicians do not realize that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the largest single cause of death among women and accounts for 1/3 of the deaths; that 34% of US women are living with CVD; and that more women than men die of coronary heart disease each year. Because of this disconnect, the assessment of cardiovascular risk and implementation of prevention of CVD in women have lagged behind in those in men.

Correctly identifying women at risk who would most benefit from preventive measures remains a challenge. Since many
women see only a nurse practitioner, gynecologist, or other primary care physician, all clinicians who see women for menopause-related issues need to know how best to identify and best implement prevention for women at risk for CVD and stroke.

This course will present evidence-based guidelines and teach practical CVD risk prevention to primary care physicians, reproductive medicine specialists and allied health professionals. Emphasis will be on understanding lipoprotein, blood pressure and glucose targets, with a clear discussion of who does and who does not need referral to a specialist for further risk reduction. Topics to be discussed include use of single and combination therapy, including details regarding when and how to use them; the role of nutrition, diet, exercise, and other lifestyle interventions; evidence for and against ERT and HRT related to CVD risk, including how to base the choice on individual CVD risk at menopause.


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this course, participants should be able to:
1. Estimate CVD risk in women, using currently available diagnostic tools.
2. Describe current concepts of lipid, lipoprotein and blood pressure risk factors for women at the menopause.
3. Prescribe lipid and blood pressure management strategies and know when to refer for specialty care.
4. Implement in practice key lifestyle interventions.


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