Listen to Your Heart

Secondary prevention: Practical applications in cardiovascular care

What are the key challenges in secondary prevention in cardiovascular care, and how can guidelines be translated into practice to optimize patient management? Our host, Dr. Michael Levi, takes a deep dive into secondary prevention in cardiovascular care, with Dr. Lior Bibas, a cardiologist and critical care physician. In this episode, our experts unpack the core principles of secondary prevention in cardiovascular care, exploring how to minimize recurrent events through targeted lipid management, lifestyle interventions, and evidence-based pharmacologic strategies. From defining optimal LDL, non-HDL, and ApoB thresholds to sequencing different pharmacological agents, the discussion offers a practical roadmap for achieving aggressive lipid lowering in high-risk patients. Discover actionable insights grounded in international guidelines that will strengthen your approach to optimizing cardiovascular risk reduction and delivering long-term protection for patients following a vascular event. Don’t miss the conversation!  The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.  Declaration of conflict of interest:  Dr. Michael Levi: * None. Dr. Lior Bibas: * None. MAT-CA- 2600003 V(1.0) App 01/26

Beyond LDL, lipoprotein A: Role and impact on ACS

How is the evolving understanding of lipoprotein A reshaping our approach to prevention of heart disease? Our host, Dr. Michael Levi, takes a deep dive into this topic with Dr. Lior Bibas, a cardiologist and critical care physician at Pierre Boucher Hospital and the Montreal Heart Institute. In this episode, our experts explain why lipoprotein A is gaining prominence as a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, discussing its unique properties and clinical implications. They share insights from their clinical practices, revealing how a deeper understanding of specific lipid markers is influencing both primary and secondary prevention strategies and aggressive treatment decisions. Tune in for a glimpse into the future of personalized heart care and emerging therapies that could transform treatment. Don’t miss the conversation! The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Declaration of conflict of interest: Dr. Michael Levi: · None. Dr. Lior Bibas: · None. MAT-CA-2501196 V(1.0) App 09/25

Improving Adherence to Lipid-Lowering Treatments

Secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) often requires the use of lifelong therapies. How can healthcare providers promote adherence to secondary prevention interventions to help high-risk patients achieve their lipid goals? Our host, Dr. Liam Brunham, takes a deeper look into this topic with Dr. Tara Sedlak, a cardiologist at Vancouver General Hospital and BC Women's Hospital, and Director of the Leslie Diamond Women's Heart Health Clinic. Despite the availability of lipid-lowering therapies that reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality, many patients with established ASCVD are not achieving guideline-recommended lipid targets. This episode takes a closer look at some of the factors contributing to this care gap, with a focus on the reasons why patients may be discontinuing their medications. Our experts discuss practical strategies to optimize adherence and secondary prevention for improved outcomes. In addition, they also explore the various ways in which treatments can be personalized to individual patient needs, and how best to support and empower patients in their journey toward optimal lipid management. Don’t miss the conversation! The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Declaration of conflict of interest: Dr. Brunham: * Direct financial relationship including receipt of honoraria: Sanofi, Amgen, HLS, Pfizer, Ultragenyx, Novartis, Novo Nordisk. Membership on advisory boards or speaker’s bureau: Sanofi, Amgen, HLS, Pfizer, Ultragenyx, Novartis, Novo Nordisk. Funded grants, research, or clinical trials: Amgen, Novartis, Ionis. Dr. Sedlak: * Direct financial relationship including receipt of honoraria: Amgen, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, KYE Pharmaceuticals, Pendopharm, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Bayer, Novartis, Pfizer. Membership on advisory boards or speaker’s bureau: Amgen, Novo Nordisk, KYE Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly. MAT-CA-2301816 App Dec 2023

Optimizing Dyslipidemia Management in the Post-STEMI Acute Setting

Following an acute coronary syndrome like non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), primary revascularization approaches are the cornerstone for management. What other immediate secondary prevention strategies can be taken to further reduce the residual risk that remains for these patients? Our host, Dr. Liam Brunham, takes a deeper look into this topic with Dr. Jean Grégoire, a cardiologist and clinical researcher working in the Interventional Cardiology Service of the Coronary Care Unit at the Montreal Heart Institute, and Associate Clinical Professor at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine. This episode discusses the clinical and anatomical benefits from further intensification of lipid-lowering therapies in high-risk patients, and best practices for management of dyslipidemia post-NSTEMI. Our experts go on to explore some of the clinical evidence supporting earlier use of intensified lipid-lowering therapy in the acute setting—notably, the EPIC-STEMI Study. They also examine how findings from these studies may impact future clinical practice, and how better outcomes may be achieved with more significant reductions in LDL cholesterol. Don’t miss the conversation! The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Declaration of conflict of interest: Dr. Brunham: * Direct financial relationship including receipt of honoraria: Sanofi, Amgen, HLS, Pfizer, Ultragenyx, Novartis, Novo Nordisk. Membership on advisory boards or speaker’s bureau: Sanofi, Amgen, HLS, Pfizer, Ultragenyx, Novartis, Novo Nordisk. Funded grants, research or clinical trials: Amgen, Novartis, Ionis. Dr. Grégoire: * Membership on advisory boards or speaker’s bureau: Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, HLS, Novartis, Sanofi, Servier. MAT-CA-2301813 App Dec 2023

Evidence Based Clinical Strategies after an Acute Coronary Syndrome

What’s new in lipid management for those having experienced a recent acute coronary event? Our host, Dr. George Thanassoulis, takes a deeper look into this topic with Dr. Shaun Goodman, a Cardiologist and Associate Head in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, at St. Michael’s Hospital, and a Professor and Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario (Polo) Chair at the University of Toronto’s Department of Medicine. He is Co-Director of the Canadian VIGOUR (Virtual Coordinating Centre for Global Collaborative Cardiovascular Research) Centre. This episode discusses how the recently updated Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines have changed the overall clinical practice of lipid management. Our experts touch on why those having acute coronary syndrome within the last year are at higher risk for subsequent events, and the importance of collaborative multidisciplinary care. They also discuss clinical evidence from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES and FOURIER trials, demonstrating how this patient subgroup may benefit from more aggressive lowering of LDL cholesterol with PCSK9 inhibitors. Don’t miss the conversation! The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Declaration of conflict of interest: Dr.  Thanassoulis: * Direct financial relationship including receipt of honoraria: Sanofi. Membership on advisory boards or speaker’s bureau: Sanofi, Amgen, Novartis, Silence. Dr. Goodman: * Direct financial relationship including receipt of honoraria: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario/University of Toronto (Polo) Chair, Canadian Heart Failure Society, Canadian Heart Research Centre and MD Primer, Canadian VIGOUR Centre, Cleveland Clinic Coordinating Centre for Clinical Research, Duke Clinical Research Institute, New York University Clinical Coordinating Centre, PERFUSE Research Institute, TIMI Study Group (Brigham Health). Membership on advisory boards or speaker’s bureau: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CSL Behring, Eli Lilly, Esperion, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, HLS Therapeutics, JAMP Pharma, Merck, Novartis, Pendopharm/Pharmascience, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi, Servier, Tolmar Pharmaceuticals, Valeo Pharma. Funded grants, research or clinical trials: Amgen, Anthos Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CSL Behring, Daiichi-Sankyo/American Regent, Eli Lilly, Esperion, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Novo Nordisk A/C, Pendopharm/Pharmascience, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi.