Pediatric Carotid Pre-Atherosclerotic Disease: How Can We Screen For It?

ULTRASOUND SOLUTIONS CORP. is proud to welcome back Kevin D. Evans, PhD, RT(R) (M) (BD) (ARRT), RDMS, RVS, FSDMS, FAIUM, Professor Emeritus and Academy Professor at The Ohio State University, and his Research Assistant, Isaiah W. Bloom, BS, for a fascinating look at a study of pediatric patients screened with ultrasound for evidence of cardiovascular disease.  

Course Description:

Today’s decline in cardiovascular health calls for identification and control of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors at younger ages. Current preventive health efforts are not specifically focused on pediatric cardiovascular health or pre-emptive measures to eradicate future CVD in adulthood. Existing clinical standards base pediatric prevention and treatment strategies on the outcomes of older adult populations. This presentation will explore the use of common clinical measures, such as Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT), Body Mass Index (BMI), and Spectral Doppler flow velocities as possible risk assessments. Research results from a study based on clinical endpoints measured in a large cohort of 192 children, ages 8 – 11 years, will be discussed. The focus was on evaluating children enrolled in a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-eligible school food program) and determining their risk for early signs of atherosclerosis. (Approved for 1 SDMS CME credit, provided one is present for the entire event)

Course Objectives:  Upon completion of this educational activity, the participant will be able to:

• Describe the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the United States’ pediatric population.
• Identify specifically how Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT) was measured in a cohort of children and its relationship to recorded Spectral Doppler flow velocities.
• Discuss the importance of developing a specific set of CVD risk assessment measures for pediatric patients, rather than applying existing adult standards to children.
• State how 2-D and Doppler measurements might be used to identify children who are at greatest risk of developing CVD.
• Explore the next steps in building pediatric risk models to better predict the risk of CVD and how these clinical endpoints could be used for surveillance.
• Identify some potential clinical measures to mitigate the progression of pediatric CVD.

About Our Speakers:

Kevin D. Evans, PhD, RT(R) (M) (BD) (ARRT), RDMS, RVS, FSDMS, FAIUM, is Professor Emeritus and Academy Professor at The Ohio State University. He is also the Director of the Laboratory for Investigatory Imaging. Kevin was a Radiology Manager and practicing health care provider for over 20 years. Dr. Evans completed his PhD in 2004, started his research lab in 2007, and has had consistent funding from federal and state agencies, as well as private foundations. As a Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI, Dr. Evans has been working on novel cardiovascular disease assessment measures, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and capturing imaging data to reduce musculoskeletal injuries.

Dr. Evans is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. He is also the Past Chair of the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography and the Past President of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and its Educational Foundation. Additionally, Dr. Evans is a past recipient of the Society of Ultrasound in Medical Education’s Legacy Award and the AIUM Distinguished Sonographer Award.

Isaiah Bloom, BS, is a graduate of The Ohio State University’s College of Arts and Sciences. His degree in Biology was earned with honors and research distinction based on his undergraduate work in Dr. Evans’ lab. Isaiah’s thesis was titled: Preventative Health Screening for Women at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Targeting Women 40 – 64 Years of Age. He continued post-graduate research in Dr. Evans’ lab and used this experience to gain acceptance to the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. Currently enrolled in the MD/MBA program, Isaiah remains a prolific writer, as he has already published over 10 peer-reviewed articles.

This activity has been approved for 1.0 SDMS CME credit.

The CME participant roster will be reported by Ultrasound Solutions Corp. to the SDMS CME Tracker System.

Important update from the SDMS:

SDMS no longer allows its CME providers to issue Partial Credit for attendance. If you join late or leave early, the SDMS will no longer permit us to award partial pro-rated credit.

Therefore, from now on, in order to receive CME credit, you must be in attendance for the ENTIRE event via your own unique Zoom link that Zoom emailed to you when you registered. Then, and only then, will USC be able to award you any credit. So, please be prompt and attentive to the time schedule. We apologize for any inconvenience, but again, this is a new SDMS policy we must abide by. Thank you for understanding.