Cardiology

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Can Adjunct Therapy
Improve Coronary Heart Disease Risk?

This CME activity has reached its termination date and no longer offers continuing education credit. Please note that expired CME activities may not contain the most up-to-date information available.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Can Adjunct Therapy Improve Coronary Heart Disease Risk?

Dear Colleague,

The benefits of cholesterol lowering continue to be an important issue, as evidenced by the substantial coverage given at the 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) meeting. Hypertriglyceridemia, affecting approximately one third of Americans, has also been identified as a risk factor for coronary disease. Although statins have been the first-line therapy in primary as well as secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, evidence suggests that clinicians should now consider other options, such as combination therapy, so that abnormalities of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol can be addressed at the same time that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is reduced.

Data presented at the 2005 AHA meeting discussed naturally occurring long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, available in fish oil and effective concentrate, as adjunctive agents for reducing hypertriglyceridemia. Published data support the view that supplemental omega-3 fatty acids lower plasma triglycerides about as much as fibrates or niacin, particularly in individuals with severe hypertriglyceridemia. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can, therefore, be considered, along with fibrates and niacin, as potential adjunct therapies in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial in lowering triglycerides in those who may not tolerate fibrates or niacin.

Our expert faculty will discuss selected data from the AHA meeting that may affect your daily practice, covering updates on the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease and how they affect cardiac function. Finally, this activity will address potential advantages of omega-3 fatty acid formulations that provide higher concentrates of the eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids.

I hope you will find that the information presented in this activity offers you immediately useful strategies for improving the outcomes of patients in your practice. I encourage you to download or order your copy today.

Sincerely,

CHAIR
Henry N. Ginsberg, MD Irving Professor of Medicine College of Physicians and Surgeons Columbia University New York, New York

FACULTY
Vera Bittner, MD, MSPH Professor of Medicine Section Head, Preventive Cardiology Division of Cardiovascular Disease University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama
W. Virgil Brown, MD Charles Howard Candler Professor of Medicine Director, Division of Arteriosclerosis and Lipid Metabolism Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta VA Medical Center Atlanta, Georgia

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TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity is designed for cardiologists, endocrinologists, primary care physicians, and other healthcare professionals who treat patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

ACTIVITY GOAL

The goal of this activity is to provide an overview of the latest developments in omega-3 fatty acids as adjunct therapy for lowering hypertriglyceridemia in patients at risk of coronary heart disease.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Based on a better understanding of risk factors for hypertriglyceridemia, you will increase your ability to identify patients at risk for hypertriglyceridemia and, if present, to treat the condition to improve outcomes.
Increase your knowledge of the mechanism of action, as well as clinical efficacy and safety, of omega-3 fatty acids, and integrate this adjunct therapy into appropriate treatment regimens for patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
Assess the safety of current first-line and adjunct therapies for hypertriglyceridemia and formulate strategic treatment regimens that will improve patients’ prognosis.

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CME INFORMATION

Statement of Accreditation

Projects In Knowledge is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Projects In Knowledge designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity is planned and implemented as an independent CME activity in accordance with the ACCME Essential Areas and Policies.

Contract for Mutual Responsibility in CME/CE
Projects In Knowledge has developed the contract to demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest quality professional education to clinicians, and to help clinicians set educational goals to challenge and enhance their learning experience.
For more information on the contract, click here.

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DISCLOSURE INFORMATION

The Disclosure Policy of Projects In Knowledge requires that presenters comply with the Standards for Commercial Support. All faculty are required to disclose any personal interest or relationship they or their spouse/partner have with the supporters of this activity or any commercial interest that is discussed in their presentation. Any discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will also be disclosed in the course materials.

For complete prescribing information on the products discussed during this CME/CE activity, please see your current Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR).

Vera Bittner, MD, MSPH, has disclosed affiliations with Atherogenics, Inc (grant/research support), CV Therapeutics, Inc (consultant), Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc (speakers bureau), Merck & Co, Inc (speakers bureau), NIH (grant/research support), Pfizer Inc (grant/research support, consultant, speakers bureau), and Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc (consultant).

W. Virgil Brown, MD, has disclosed affiliations with Abbott Laboratories (consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria), AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (grant/research support, consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria), Eli Lilly and Company (grant/research support, consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria), GlaxoSmithKline (speakers bureau and honoraria), Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc (grant/research support, consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria), Merck & Co, Inc (consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria), Pfizer Inc (grant/research support, consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria), Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc (consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria), Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc (consultant, speakers bureau, and honoraria), Schering-Plough Corporation (consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria), and Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc (grant/research support, consultant, speakers bureau, advisory board, and honoraria).

Henry N. Ginsberg, MD, has disclosed affiliations with AstraZeneca (consultant), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (consultant, advisory board), Merck & Co, Inc (consultant, advisory board), Merck/Schering-Plough (consultant, advisory board), Pfizer Inc (consultant, advisory board, research support), Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc (grant/research support, consultant, advisory board), Roche Pharmaceuticals (consultant, advisory board), Sanofi (consultant, advisory board, research support), and Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc (consultant, advisory board, research support).

There will be no discussion of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices in this activity.

Peer Reviewer has disclosed no significant relationships.

Projects In Knowledge's staff members have no significant relationships to disclose.

Conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by the Executive Committee of Projects In Knowledge. All conflicts are resolved prior to the beginning of the activity by the Trust In Knowledge peer review process.

The opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect those of Projects In Knowledge.

This CME activity is provided by Projects In Knowledge solely as an educational service. Specific patient care decisions are the responsibility of the clinician caring for the patient.

This independent CME activity is supported by an educational grant from
Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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