Hypertension and Dyslipidemia Therapy Flashcards
7 cards from real BCACP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hypertension and Dyslipidemia Therapy flashcards as text
A patient on atorvastatin 40 mg has LDL of 85 mg/dL but is very high-risk ASCVD. After maximizing statin dose, which add-on therapy should be considered first per ACC/AHA guidelines?
Answer: Ezetimibe
ACC/AHA guidelines recommend adding ezetimibe as the first non-statin therapy in very high-risk patients whose LDL remains above goal on maximally tolerated statin therapy.
Which antihypertensive drug class is the recommended first-line therapy for a patient with hypertension and proteinuric diabetic nephropathy?
Answer: ACE inhibitors or ARBs
ACE inhibitors and ARBs reduce intraglomerular pressure and proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy, providing renoprotection beyond blood pressure lowering.
A patient taking simvastatin 80 mg is newly prescribed clarithromycin for a respiratory infection. What is the most appropriate pharmacist intervention?
Answer: Hold simvastatin during the 5-day antibiotic course
Clarithromycin is a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor that dramatically increases simvastatin exposure; holding the statin for the short antibiotic course is the recommended strategy.
Hypertriglyceridemia (TG >500 mg/dL) poses what primary acute risk that warrants immediate treatment?
Answer: Acute pancreatitis
Severely elevated triglycerides (>500 mg/dL) increase the risk of acute pancreatitis, which is the primary reason for urgent pharmacologic intervention at this level.
Which antihypertensive drug is preferred in a patient with hypertension and a concurrent migraine prophylaxis indication?
Answer: Propranolol
Propranolol is FDA-approved for migraine prophylaxis and also lowers blood pressure, making it an ideal single-agent choice for patients with both conditions.
A patient on warfarin is started on cholestyramine for LDL reduction. Which counseling point is most critical?
Answer: Warfarin should be taken 1 hour before or 4-6 hours after cholestyramine
Bile acid sequestrants bind warfarin in the GI tract, reducing its absorption; separating administration by at least 4-6 hours (or taking warfarin 1 hour before) preserves anticoagulation.
Which of the following represents the correct ACC/AHA classification of a patient with a sustained BP of 138/88 mmHg on two separate visits?
Answer: Stage 1 hypertension
Per 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines, stage 1 hypertension is defined as SBP 130–139 mmHg or DBP 80–89 mmHg, so 138/88 falls in this category.