Common cardiovascular and metabolic (cardiometabolic) risk factors in high-risk patients include dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, and abdominal adiposity. Abdominal adiposity is an important underlying risk factor for clinical atherosclerotic disease and, along with other cardiometabolic risk factors, requires early identification and management.

Overstimulation of the endocannabinoid system, a newly identified physiologic system involved in lipid and glucose metabolism, is associated with the development of various cardiometabolic risk factors. Cannabinoid (CB) receptors, specifically CB₁ receptors, found in the brain and in various peripheral organs, play a pivotal role in regulating energy balance and body weight. Blockade of CB₁ receptors has been shown to improve various cardiometabolic risk factors in obese or overweight patients, even in patients with pre-existing diabetes and dyslipidemia.

This program examines how to improve outcomes in high-risk patients through targeted risk-reduction strategies aimed at each patient’s individual cardiometabolic risk-factor profile. Current and new risk-reduction approaches are discussed.

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