Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM): Diagnosis, Natural History, and Management Considerations

This e-learning module is designed to provide you with an understanding of how HCM can be diagnosed, managed, and treated. It assists cardiologists and other healthcare practitioners with an interest in HCM management to:

improve diagnosis
more accurately target treatments for heart failure based on an individual patient’s clinical profile
implement strategies for sudden death prevention
appreciate when referral to an HCM expert center may be appropriate.

The module should take about 60 minutes to complete, dependent on your level of knowledge. We begin with a pre-assessment of your understanding of HCM. Then, there are seven topics and a post-assessment. As soon as you complete a topic, the next topic will be unlocked.

Target HCP audience:
Family/general physicians, general cardiologists, cardiac nurses

Funding disclosure
This activity is supported by an educational grant from BMS. Learners may participate in this educational activity free of charge.

Release date: September 2021

Expiration date: September 2022

Expert faculty: Dr Martin Maron, Director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center and Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center and the Chanin T. Mast Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center in Morristown Medical Center

Introduction to HCM, Diagnosing HCM, Hemodynamic Subgroups of HCM, Genetics and Genetic Testing, Assessment of Sudden Death Risk, Management of Heart Failure Symptoms and Summary.

Describe the common physical examination findings, electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns and cardiovascular symptoms in patients presenting with HCM.
Identify the cardiovascular imaging features that support a clinical diagnosis of HCM.
Differentiate diagnostically between HCM and other diseases that can cause LV hypertrophy (LVH) and, therefore, appear morphologically similar to HCM.
Understand how to determine the correct hemodynamic category for individual HCM. patients (obstructive or nonobstructive) as well as other high-risk subgroups including the ‘end-stage’ phase with systolic dysfunction and HCM patients with LV apical aneurysms.
Know why early diagnosis of HCM is important and may potentially improve the natural history for many HCM patients, including mitigating heart failure symptoms and preventing sudden death.
Discuss contemporary management strategies, including differences in treatment options and using multimodal cardiovascular imaging to aid management decisions.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint Providership of ScientiaCME and PCM Scientific. ScientiaCME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

ScientiaCME designates this internet enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Faculty disclosure:

Dr Martin Maron, MD, Director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center and Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center and the Chanin T. Mast Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center in Morristown Medical Center, has received financial compensation for consulting for Cytokinetics and Imbria, and received research grant from Takeda and iRhythm.

Disclosure of educational planners:

Jude Norton-Gaster, PhD, Chief Operating Officer of PCM Scientific, has no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose

Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, President of ScientiaCME, has no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Each step below needs to be completed before moving to the next. Once you have successfully completed all the major four steps, you can claim your CME certificate and credit.