Beta Blockade in Cardiovascular Disease: Emerging Therapies and HEDIS® Measures

Jointly sponsored by the University of Cincinnati and Princeton CME

Target Audience

This activity is designed for managed markets physicians and pharmacists.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

Define hypertension, its role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality, and its US economic burden
Describe the role of endothelial function in hypertension and its impact on CVD
Assess the role of nitric oxide and vasodilation in CVD management
Explain the benefits and limitations of current and emerging beta blockers in hypertension and CVD management
Incorporate current medication options into clinical practice to adhere to HEDIS® measures and maximize hypertension and CVD outcomes

Credit Eligibility

To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must read all monograph content (print or online), log on to www.princetoncme.com to complete the 10-question post-test with a score of 70% or better, and complete the online evaluation form.

Participants who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form online may immediately print their documentation of credit.

Please e-mail info@princetoncme.com or call 609-371-1137 if you have questions or need additional information.

Release Date: January 15, 2008; Expiration Date: January 15, 2009

Estimated time to complete: 1 hour

There is no fee associated with this activity.

CME Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the University of Cincinnati and Princeton CME. The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Cincinnati designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CPE Accreditation

Princeton CME is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education (ACPE Provider #452) and complies with the Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines. This activity is approved for 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education (UPN 452-999-08-004-H01-P).

Any participant wanting to file a grievance with respect to any aspect of a continuing pharmacy education activity sponsored or cosponsored by Princeton CME may contact the Assistant Director of Continuing Education in writing. The Assistant Director of Continuing Education will review the grievance and respond within 30 days of receiving the written statement. If the participant is unsatisfied with the response, an appeal to the Director of Continuing Education may be made for a second level of review.

Participating Faculty

Presenters

David Calabrese, RPh, MHP
Chief Clinical Officer
MedMetrics Health Partners
Assistant Clinical Professor
Northeastern University
Bouvé College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences
Boston, Massachusetts

Thomas D. Giles, MD
Professor of Medicine
Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology
Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, Louisiana

Edgar R. Gonzalez, PharmD, FASHP, FASCP
Director and Clinical Coordinator
Department of Pharmacy Services
Mary Washington Hospital
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Independent Clinical Reviewer

Jerome D. Cohen, MD
Professor
Cardiology/Internal Medicine
St. Louis University
St. Louis, Missouri

Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

According to the disclosure policy of the University of Cincinnati and Princeton CME, faculty, editors, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control content are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with relevant commercial companies related to this activity. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest. If a conflict is identified, it is the responsibility of the University of Cincinnati and Princeton CME to initiate a mechanism to resolve the conflict(s). The existence of these interests or relationships is not viewed as implying bias or decreasing the value of the presentation.

All educational materials are reviewed for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies reported, and levels of evidence.

The faculty has reported the following:
Mr. Calabrese disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.
Dr. Cohen: Consultant—Merck and Co., Inc; Speaker’s bureau—Novartis
Dr. Giles: Grant support—Novartis (principal investigator; funds paid to Tulane University School of Medicine), National Institutes of Health (principal investigator; funds paid to Tulane University School of Medicine); Scientific and promotional consultant—Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb/sanofi-aventis U.S., Forest/Sankyo, Pfizer; Speaker—Novartis
Dr. Gonzalez: Scientific and promotional consultant—King Pharmaceuticals; Promotional speaker’s bureau—Amgen, King Pharmaceuticals

Planning Committee Kay Weigand, University of Cincinnati; Randy Robbin and John Savage, Princeton CME; Kristin Dickie and Mary Johnson, Princeton Media Communications have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

The University of Cincinnati and Princeton CME require faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices are discussed in their presentation.
The faculty has disclosed that no off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will be discussed.

Some of the clinical studies discussed in this activity may have been funded by manufacturers of drugs or devices.

Grant Support

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.