Spring 2014 LipidSpin Articles

Matthew K. Ito, PharmD, CLS, FNLA

From the NLA President: A Year in Review

It has been my distinct pleasure to serve as President of the National Lipid Association (NLA) during the 2013/2014 term. I am thankful to have been a part of the leadership in an organization with so many dedicated colleagues. I was blessed to serve with a wonderful Executive Committee and surrounded by loyal friends, colleagues, and NLA staff.

We have fulfilled our important mission this year through many significant initiatives. In coordination with the Familial... more

JANET MAXSON, PhD, FNLA
KAYE-EILEEN WILLARD, MD

From the MWLA President: Our Outcome Challenges are Universal in Scope

When the task of writing the quarterly Lipid Spin was announced at our Board meeting, the vast geographical 11 state volunteers immediately responded. The knowledge, talent, skills and passion expressed show the commitment and specialized expertise of the membership. Their enthusiasm for participating in this issue showed their commitment to educating health providers and patients.

Lipidologists and the National Lipid Association are rapidly evolving to keep pace with the overwhelming... more

ROBERT A. WILD, MD, PhD, MPH, FNLA

Letter From the Lipid Spin Editors: Practicing Clinical Lipidology Based on Best Evidence

It is with great pleasure that we bring you this issue focusing on Clinical Conundrums in Special Populations. As Dr. Ito mentions in his Presidents Message the NLA has been very busy this year. In an effort to help clinical lipidologists we convened a panel of Clinical Lipidology experts to provide guidance given the plethora of guidelines now available regarding management of dyslipidemia. Our draft document posted on the website on May 2 addresses recent guidelines and how to use them... more

SHOEB J. SITAFALWALLA, MD
RYAN NORRIS, DO

Clinical Feature: South Asian Ethnicity - An Underappreciated Cardiovascular Risk

South Asians are defined as individuals who derive their ethnic origin from the Indian subcontinent. Nearly 3.4 million South Asians currently reside in the United States experiencing a growth of 81% from 2000 to 2010.1 Interestingly, while South Asians account for only 25% of the world’s population, they account for a disproportionate 60% of the world’s cardiovascular disease burden.2 Amongst South Asians who live in the western world, rates of coronary... more

NEIL J. STONE MD, MACP, FACC, FAHA, FNLA
ANNE C. GOLDBERG, MD, FNLA
KAROL WATSON, MD, PhD, FACC

Guest Editorial: New Guidelines Serve Diverse Populations Well

What will it take to lower your patient’s risk of heart attack and stroke? Can we improve on previous risk prediction tools? Can we address global cardiovascular disease risk better in women and African Americans? Can we initiate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk reduction with evidence based "proven" therapy? Finally, can we optimize the risk reduction obtained by a focus on adherence to both lifestyle and, in higher risk cases, the proper intensity of... more

LAXMANA M. GODISHALA, MD, FACP, FASH, FNLA
DANIEL DUPREZ, MD, PhD, FAHA, FACC, FESC, FASH, FNLA

EBM Tools for Practice: Metabolic Syndrome Guidelines for Populations Around the World. How Do Screening Tools Differ?

Definition of Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is considered a "multiplex" cardiovascular risk factor, in that each component of the cluster of abnormalities is a risk factor in its own right. Metabolic syndrome is recognized clinically by the findings of abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), elevated blood pressure, high blood glucose and/or insulin resistance.1 Metabolic... more

ARMAND KRIKORIAN, MD, FACE
EDGAR V. LERMA, MD, FACP, FASN, FAHA, FASH, FNLA, FNKF

Specialty Corner: Renal Disease and Lipid Guidelines Review

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been established as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.1 The data from multiple studies link a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and/ or proteinuria with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.2-4 Dyslipidemia likely plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. In patients with CKD, the typical pattern of dyslipidemia is different from the general population: low-density... more

Shermeen Memon, MD
Binh An P. Phan, MD, FNLA

Practical Pearls: Approach to Statin Therapy in the Elderly

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality in those > 75 years of age.1 In the United States, an estimated 84 million people have CVD, with approximately 50% of these Americans being ≥ 60 years old.2 The prevalence of CVD increases with age, from 15% in men and 9% in women between the ages of 20 and 39 to 79% in men and 85% in women ages 80+.3 Although the CVD burden is noted to be high in this subset of individuals, most... more

KAYE-EILEEN WILLARD, MD

Case Study: Management of Dyslipidemia in a Patient with Advanced HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy

Treatment of the HIV-infected patient has evolved over the past decade into a prototype of how multidisciplinary team effort becomes an essential element in the practice of evidence-based medicine.

Prior to 1996, HIV-related mortality was >20% because of the disease itself but, since the advent of potent combination highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the annual AIDS-related mortality is <2%.

Life expectancy for a patient diagnosed at the age of 25 has increased... more

CARL E. ORRINGER, MD, FACC, FNLA

Member Spotlight: Carl E. Orringer, MD, FACC, FNLA

Dr. Carl Orringer recently moved to Florida and is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Previously he was an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the Harrington Chair in Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Before his move he directed the Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine Program, the Lipid Clinic and the LDL Apheresis Program at... more

ANNE C. GOLDBERG, MD, FNLA

Foundation Update

We need you!

As we reported in our most recent annual report, Foundation of the NLA donors in 2013 can say that they have helped us achieve our goal as shown by the impact that several of our initiatives had last year on a national level. To continue on this path of success, we need your help! There are various ways you can support the Foundation. You should have received an envelope with support options in the most recent issue of the Lipid Spin. If you haven’t... more