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ClearRounds Health · Cardiology · Quick Reference

Atherosclerosis / ASCVD Overview

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Prevention & Risk ReductionBeginnerAvailableOne-page PDF

Plaque biology, risk factors, prevention, imaging concepts, and why aggressive risk reduction matters.

Last reviewed

July 17, 2026

Sources / guidelines to verify

  • 2026 ACC/AHA/Multisociety Dyslipidemia Guideline (PREVENT)
  • 2025 AHA/ACC High Blood Pressure Guideline
Disclaimer: Educational reference only. Not a substitute for clinician judgment, local protocols, or current guideline review.

One-page reference

Clinically reviewed by the site owner. Still verify against the sources above and local protocol before clinical use.

1

What it is / why it matters

  • Lipid-driven arterial plaque underlies most MI, stroke, and PAD.
  • Lifelong and largely modifiable — prevention beats intervention.
2

Key diagnostic clues

  • Risk factors: high LDL, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, age, family history.
  • Subclinical disease detectable with coronary artery calcium (CAC).
  • Clinical events: ACS, ischemic stroke/TIA, claudication.
3

Initial workup

  • Lipids, BP, HbA1c, smoking status.
  • Estimate 10-year risk with PREVENT; CAC to refine borderline–intermediate risk.
4

Management framework

  • Lifestyle foundation for everyone.
  • Statin per risk category (see the Lipid Management reference for targets).
  • BP <130/80; antiplatelet for established ASCVD; smoking cessation.
  • Diabetes CV risk reduction with SGLT2i / GLP-1 RA.
5

Red flags / escalate now

  • Acute event symptoms — chest pain, focal neuro deficit, acute limb ischemia → emergent care.
6

Follow-up / monitoring

  • Reinforce risk-factor goals and adherence at each visit.
7

Clinic pearls

  • Cumulative LDL exposure matters — start prevention early.
  • A CAC score of 0 means lower MACE risk — use it to refine the risk estimate, not by itself to defer indicated therapy.

Related quick references

📄 Lipid Management / HLD / ASCVD Prevention📄 Hypertension📄 Stable Angina / Chronic Coronary Disease

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ClearRounds Health · Cardiology — Atherosclerosis / ASCVD Overview Quick Reference · Last reviewed: July 17, 2026 · Educational reference only. Not a substitute for clinician judgment, local protocols, or current guideline review.