ABOUT THIS PROGRAMME
A UNIQUE E-LEARNING
OPPORTUNITY
PROGRAMME LEADERS
Dr Landi Lombard
Specialist endocrinologist and editor, South African
Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease
Professor James Ker
Emeritus professor and professor in charge of
education programmes at the University of Pretoria
Learning objectives
To enable participants to review and understand recent evidence demonstrating the residual risk of macro- and microvascular events that exists in patients
with type 2 diabetes, even when their blood pressure is controlled and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets are achieved; and to realise that
additional therapeutic interventions are required to address this issue, particularly in those with atherogenic dyslipidaemia (low high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol, and raised triglyceride and small, dense LDL-C particle levels).
Needs analysis
Patients with type 2 diabetes have a two- to three-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared with non-diabetics at any age. Indeed, about
65% of people with diabetes die as a result of a stroke or other cardiovascular event, such as a myocardial infarction.
Microvascular disease is also common in this population and type 2 diabetes is a major cause of blindness, end-stage renal disease and non-traumatic
limb amputation. The risk of these events remains high despite effective interventions to control blood pressure and lower LDL-C levels with statin therapy.
Recent research has shown that many people with type 2 diabetes have atherogenic dyslipidaemia, which includes low levels of HDL-C as well as raised
levels of triglycerides and atherogenic small, dense LDL-C particles. Statins have only limited effects on these elements of dyslipidaemia.
However, when the statin is combined with a fibrate, cardiovascular risk can be significantly reduced. Additional fibrate therapy significantly reduces mi-
crovascular events, and prevents the risk of blindness, renal disease and peripheral vascular disease, resulting in limb amputation. Clinical trials have
confirmed the clinical benefits of this treatment strategy in patients with type 2 diabetes.
This modular and fully accredited education programme offers you opportunities to:
• evaluate the importance of residual macro- and microvascular risk in your patients with type 2 diabetes
• review discussions on the clinical issues with a distinguished
international panel of experts
• consider the clinical evidence for enhancing your current treatment strategies in patients with dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes.
The programme will be available until
1 May 2014
and includes
five interrelated modules
, which provide an easily accessible but comprehensive review
of this important clinical issue.
Each module offers:
• a brief educational summary of key learning points
• a 10-minute expert discussion (video)
• 10 questions for you to obtain two CPD points per module.
CardioVascular
Journal of Africa
website:
