Primary care
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Venous thromboembolism (VTE) encompasses deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, both of which can present on a spectrum from subtle symptoms to life- and limb-threatening emergencies. Some risk factors for VTE overlap cardiovascular risk factors and statin therapy can somewhat reduce the VTE risk. When presentations are not life-threatening, clinical prediction scores using the Well's criteria are best used to determine diagnostic testing. The mainstay of VTE treatment is anticoagulant therapy, although life- and limb-threatening presentations can also require thrombolytic therapy.
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Peripheral artery disease is most often caused by atherosclerosis. Arterial insufficiency from atherosclerotic blockages in the limbs can impair walking distance and put patients with severe disease at risk of limb loss. Management of the disease centers around early diagnosis, supervised exercise therapy and lifestyle modification, optimizing medical care (with the goal of reducing fatal cardiac and cerebrovascular events), and revascularization.
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The link between elevated LDL-C, low HDL-C, elevated triglycerides, and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease has solidified over the past decades. Concomitantly, the number of agents to treat dyslipidemia proliferated in clinical trials, proving or refuting their clinical efficacy. ⋯ Recently, there has been an explosion in emerging therapeutics for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease through the control of dyslipidemia. This article reviews standard, new, and emerging treatments for hyperlipidemia.
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In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the leading cause of death. Since 2020, the pandemic has had far-reaching effects on the landscape of health care including CVD prevention and management. ⋯ This article reviews the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the accompanying pandemic on CVD risk factor prevention and management in the United States. Potential solutions are also proposed for these patients.