Cardiovascular disease (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmias) and its risk factors (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia) impact many people. Five out of the top 10 classes of medications prescribed in Canada are used to treat cardiovascular conditions (CIHI 2015). The goal of this course is to review the current treatments and guidelines and have a discussion of how these impact clinical practice.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, learners will have achieved the following learning objectives:
Knowledge
- Review and select the appropriate physical findings, clinical biochemistry, medical imaging and other diagnostic tests required for the diagnosis and on-going monitoring of the presented cardiovascular diseases.
- Compare and contrast the relevant (available, investigational, and emerging) classes of medications for the presented cardiovascular diseases based on the following criteria: mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, adverse effects, contraindications, drug interactions (drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory), formulations, convenience and cost.
- Discuss the non-drug measures used to manage the listed disease or therapeutic conditions.
- Determine commonly used resources and sources of evidence for pharmacotherapy management in cardiovascular diseases.
- Discuss for the following cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, dyslipidemia, acute coronary syndromes, secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome, angina, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke) the pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and risk factors, risk stratification and natural history.
Skills
- Select and interpret relevant findings to determine potential and actual drug therapy problems.
- Select and justify a preferred regimen for a given clinical scenario based on evaluation of relevant therapeutic alternatives.
- Develop a care plan including monitoring and follow up for a given clinical scenario.
- Discuss how the proposed care plan and interventions meet the stated goals of therapy.
- Select, critically appraise, and apply scientific literature in the area of cardiovascular diseases pharmacotherapy recommendations.
- nterpret relevant information given clinical scenario to determine the urgency and priority of drug therapy problems. Assess the quality, accuracy and completeness self-generated and provided care plans for a given clinical scenario.
Attitudes/Values
- The learner will undertake assessment and care plan development activities in a manner respecting patient autonomy and the individual therapeutic goals.
- The learner will use inter-professional patient centered care principles to reach decisions for therapeutic alternatives.
- The learner will demonstrate respect and collaboration in course participation.
Competencies
- Reviews and selects the appropriate physical findings, clinical biochemistry, medical imaging, and other diagnostic tests required for the diagnosis and on-going monitoring of the presented cardiovascular diseases.
- Analyzes and compares different classes of cardiovascular medications based on their pharmacological properties and clinical implications.
- Select, critically appraise, and apply scientific literature in the area of cardiovascular diseases pharmacotherapy recommendations.
- Assesses the suitability of medications for individual patients considering their specific characteristics and needs.
- Discusses the non-drug measures used to manage the listed disease or therapeutic conditions.
- Selects and justifies a preferred regimen for a given clinical scenario based on evaluation of relevant therapeutic alternatives.
- Develops a care plan, including monitoring and follow-up for a given clinical scenario, that are evidence-informed and align with therapeutic goals and patient preferences.
- Communicates the rationale behind care plans and interventions to patients and healthcare teams.
- Exhibits respect and professionalism in interactions with peers and instructors.
- Actively participates in collaborative learning activities and contribute to a positive learning environment.