Understanding the Challenges of Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Program Description

Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) are genetically predisposed to elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, contributing to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. It is important to differentiate between heterozygous (He) and homozygous (Ho) FH because patients with HoFH are at a higher risk of cardiovascular events in adolescence. Despite improved management strategies for patients with HoFH, the condition remains underdiagnosed, with many young adults developing early vascular complications, leading to serious comorbidities and reduced quality of life. Targeting prevention of cardiovascular complications through appropriate cholesterol management guideline recommendations to reduce disease burden is an important role for pharmacists. This webinar will present pathophysiology and clinical features of HoFH as well as challenges in disease management, identification, and treatment that pharmacists can address through proactive patient identification.

Target audience: Specialty pharmacists

Type of activity: Application
Release date: August 7, 2023
Expiration date: August 31, 2024

Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour

Learner level: Foundational
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Examine the disease burden of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) and limitations of traditional treatments for lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
• Employ cholesterol management guideline recommendations to reduce disease burden and prevent cardiovascular complications in patients with HoFH
• Illustrate the role of the pharmacist in patient identification and routine screening for elevated cholesterol

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-23-321-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through August 31, 2024.

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, review the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.

Disclosures

Faculty

Dave L. Dixon, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, FCCP, FNLA, BCACP, CDCES, CLS, has the following relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:
Grant/Research Support: Principal investigator on an investigator-initiated study, Boehringer Ingelheim.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh, MBA; Rose Namissa-Buszka, PharmD, BCPS, CHCP; Abigail Dill; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; Chloe Taccetta; and Rebecca Green have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Anonymous peer reviewers were used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewers have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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[email protected]
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