In this discussion, Dr. Manuel Valdebran, Dr. Victoria Palmer and Dr. Ashley Waring delve into the association between cardiovascular disease and psoriasis, with a focus on preventive cardiology. Dr. Waring, an assistant professor of medicine specializing in preventive cardiology and clinical lipidology, shares insights into her clinics at the Medical University of South Carolina. She emphasizes the importance of preventing cardiovascular events before they occur, particularly in younger patients identified as at risk due to factors like family history, high cholesterol, and hypertension.

The conversation then shifts to risk stratification guidelines and screening methods for patients with inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. Dr. Victoria Palmer, an internal medicine resident, discusses the use of the Framingham scoring criteria and the consideration of factors like body surface area and systemic treatments in determining cardiovascular risk. Dr. Waring highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach, taking into account conditions like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, which are often overlooked in risk assessment.

Later in the discussion, the focus turns to preventive measures and patient education. Dr. Waring mentions the challenges of identifying cardiovascular risk in younger patients with mildly elevated LDL cholesterol and the potential role of tools such as the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score. The conversation concludes with a discussion on resources for patient education, including lipid clinics, lifestyle modification programs, and online materials provided by organizations like the National Lipid Association. The doctors also touch upon emerging topics in preventive cardiology, such as the role of lipoprotein (a) and ApoB in risk assessment. Overall, the discussion underscores the importance of early intervention, patient education, and a multidisciplinary approach in preventing cardiovascular disease, especially in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions like psoriasis.