Atherosclerosis is the pathological foundation of most cardiovascular events, driven by lipid accumulation, inflammation, and vascular remodeling over decades. The Atherosclerosis session examines how this chronic process begins, progresses, and eventually manifests as coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. Participants will review the biology of plaque formation, the role of traditional and emerging risk factors, and the interplay between genetics, lifestyle, and systemic conditions such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The session connects basic mechanisms with practical prevention and treatment strategies that clinicians can apply every day.

With growing interest in attending an cardiology conference that integrates bench and bedside perspectives, clinicians need a clear, updated understanding of risk reduction. This session explores how lipid-lowering therapies, anti-inflammatory strategies, and blood pressure control can slow plaque progression and promote regression in some patients. Attendees will learn how to implement evidence-based goals for LDL-C, blood pressure, and glycemic control, while also addressing smoking cessation, diet, exercise, and weight management. Case discussions will highlight how to individualize therapy for patients with recurrent events, statin intolerance, familial hypercholesterolemia, or complex comorbidities.

A major focus is on recognizing and managing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease across multiple vascular territories. Participants will examine how imaging—coronary CT angiography, carotid ultrasound, peripheral vascular studies, and calcium scoring—can reveal subclinical disease and refine risk stratification. The session emphasizes the concept of global vascular risk, encouraging clinicians to think beyond single-vessel pathology and address the entire arterial tree. Strategies for managing polyvascular disease, integrating antithrombotic therapy, and coordinating care across cardiology, neurology, and vascular surgery are discussed in depth.

The session also covers emerging therapies and future directions, including PCSK9 inhibitors, novel lipid-modifying agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, and gene-targeted treatments. Attendees will consider how population health initiatives, screening programs, and policy-level interventions can shift the burden of atherosclerotic disease at scale. By linking molecular mechanisms, individual patient care, and public health perspectives, this session equips clinicians to confront atherosclerosis comprehensively and proactively.