Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Question 1

What may the association between triglycerides and CHD risk?

Answer 1

May be related to low HDL levels and highly atherogenic forms of LDL cholesterol.

Question 2

What lowers HDL cholesterol?

Answer 2

Smoking, obesity and physical inactivity.

Question 3

What will the serum of someone with high triglycerides be like?

Answer 3

Fatty.

Question 4

When are tendon xanthomas found and what types of hypercholesterolaemia cause them?

Answer 4

Extensor tendons of fingers, patella, elbows, achilles tendon. Types II and III.

Question 5

What are 4 types of xanthomas?

Answer 5

Xanthelasma (around eyes), tendon xanthomas, tuberous xanthomas, eruptive xanthomas.

Question 6

Name all the diseases associated with hypertension.

Answer 6

Gangrene in lower extremities, CHF, LVH, MI, hypertensive encephalopathy, CHD, cerebral haemorrhage, preeclampsia/eclampsia, stroke, chronic kidney failure, blindness, aortic aneurysm.

Question 7

What are the 2 types of hypertension?

Answer 7

Essential (90%, no underlying cause), secondary (underlying cause).

Question 8

In hypertension what causes the biggest decrease: Increasing dose or using a combination of drugs?

Answer 8

Combination of drugs.

Question 9

Name some ways that diabetes leads to more atherosclerosis.

Answer 9

It increases platelet adhesivness, coagulation and plasminogen activator type 1 (all cause dysfibrinolysis and hypercoagulation leading to atherosclerosis). Increases LDL/VLDL and decreases HDL. Increases oxidative stress which causes endothelial dysfunction.

Question 10

What characteristics should a patient have 3 of to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome?

Answer 10

A high enough waist circumference, high triglycerides, low HDL-C, high BP, high fasting glucose.

Question 11

What effect is a rise in CRP thought to have on your cardiovascular risk?

Answer 11

May increase cardiovascular risk.

Question 12

Do South Asians living in the UK have a higher CHD death rate?

Answer 12

Yes.

Question 13

What are the relative rates of CHD deaths and strokes for black Caribbean and black African people?

Answer 13

Lower CHD death rate, much higher risk of stroke.

Question 14

What is the assign score which indicates that someone should receive treatment?

Answer 14

20 or more.

Question 15

What is risk scoring less effective in?

Answer 15

Patients who actually have atherosclerosis.