Erin Pardee, PA-C, is a PA specializing in electrophysiology and serves as a board member for the Academy of Physician Associates in Cardiology.

Erin Pardee, PA-C

The APAC Recap: AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2024

Primary Aldosteronism: Screening and Diagnosis - 0:01:12

Renal Denervation: Efficacy and Implementation - 0:06:05

Identifying Appropriate Candidates for Renal Denervation - 0:08:14

Contraindications and Exclusions for Renal Denervation - 0:09:15

Audience and Tracks of the Conference - 0:09:32

, Erin Pardee, PA-C, a physician associate and board member of the 

Academy of Physician Associates in Cardiology (APAC)

, is joined by fellow board member and John Giacona, PhD, PA-C, an assistant professor in the Applied Clinical Research Department and the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, to discuss highlights from the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2024. Giacona, a hypertension specialist, describes the annual conference as a major event for hypertension researchers and clinicians, offering cutting-edge updates on research, clinical trials, and expert discussions on hypertension management.

This episode begins with Giacona discussing a session focused on primary aldosteronism, the most common endocrine form of secondary 

. He underscores the underscreening of this condition, with only 1 to 2% of eligible patients receiving proper evaluation. Giacona goes on to highlight key patient populations who should be screened, including those with resistant hypertension, hypertension with hypokalemia, or adrenal incidentalomas. He also shares practical advice on screening techniques, such as testing plasma aldosterone concentration, plasma renin activity, and potassium levels, even when patients are on medications like spironolactone.

The conversation then shifts to renal denervation, an emerging FDA-approved treatment for resistant hypertension. Giacona notes that while renal denervation yields a modest reduction in blood pressure—comparable to adding a new antihypertensive drug—it could benefit patients who cannot tolerate multiple medications. Giacona outlines ideal candidates for the procedure, such as patients with confirmed combined systolic and diastolic hypertension, but warns against its use in individuals with secondary causes of hypertension, kidney disease, or anatomical issues like renal artery stenosis.

Before closing Giacona encourages cardiologists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, and anybody who “has a patient with a blood pressure” to attend future AHA Hypertension sessions. The upcoming AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions occurs September 4 to 7, 2025 in Baltimore, MD.

Editor’s Note: Around the 5:20 mark of this episode, Giacona says renal denervation provides an average blood pressure reduction of 5%. Giacona wants to clarify he misspoke and the proper figure is 5 mmHg. 

Pardee and Giacona have no relevant disclosures to report. 

All episodes of The APAC Recap will be available on HCPLive.com and on our 

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In this episode, John Giacona, PhD, PA-C, shares insights from the 2024 AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions, focusing on primary aldosteronism and renal denervation.

The APAC Recap: ASPC 2024 Congress on CVD Prevention, with Viet Le, DMSc, PA-C

, host Erin Pardee, PA-C, a physician asssociate and board member for the 

, is joined by fellow board member Viet Le, DMSc, PA-C, to discuss key insights from the American Society of Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) Congress on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.

 Introduction and Overview of ASPC Congress


Favorite Presentations and Key Debates at ASPC


 Recommendations for General Cardiology Practitioners on Lipoprotein(a) Testing


Conference Attendance and Specialties Benefiting from ASPC


 Continuing Education and Clinician Resources at ASPC


Held in Salt Lake City, Utah from August 2 to 4, 2024, ASPC 2024 featured more than a dozen sessions led by leading opinion leaders in cardiology. When discussing his time at the meeting, Le, describes it as a personal favorite of his, pointing out the meeting programming’s emphasis on taking a practical approach to preventive cardiology.

Le emphasizes the conference’s focus on comprehensive cardiovascular care, which includes discussions on non-traditional cardiology topics such as obesity and metabolic health. He cites key debates from the conference, including discussions on the role of coronary calcium (CAC) vs. CT angiogram (CTA) in refining cardiovascular risk, and the value of 

Later in the episode, Le points out Lp(a)’s recognition as an important risk factor, but underlines its present utility lies primarily in adjusting the intensity of risk reduction strategies for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Le calls attention to ongoing phase 3 trials of Lp(a)-lowering agents, such as olpasiran, lepodisiran, and zerlasiran.

When discussing these trials, Le expresses optimism about upcoming therapies aimed at reducing cardiovascular events by targeting this biomarker and encourages providers to consider ordering Lp(a) testing at least once for their cardiology patients, which he highlights was recently introduced as an official recommendation by the National Lipid Association. During the conversation, Le also teases the inclusion of late-breaking data into the meeting’s agenda in the future.

Before concluding the conversation, Le and Pardee take a look ahead to the upcoming 

Cardiovascular Advanced Practice Providers

 (CAPP) conference. Le highlights his own sessions from the meeting, where he will cover topics such as hyperlipidemia, chest pain guidelines, and metabolic health.

In this edition of the APAC Recap, Erin Pardee, PA-C, discusses the American Society of Preventive Cardiology 2024 Congress on CVD Prevention with Viet Le, DMSc, PA-C. 

Introducing the APAC Recap!

Introducing the APAC Recap!

A collaborative effort between HCPLive and the 

, this multimedia series was born from 1 simple goal: Improving care through shared insights from medical meetings. 

Each episode will feature a discussion surrounding key takeaways and practice-altering updates from recent medical meetings APAC members have attended. In this introductory episode, Viet Le, DMSc, PA-C, a preventive cardiology PA at Intermountain Health and former president of APAC, sits down with Erin Pardee, PA-C, a board member with APAC, for a brief back-and-forth about the series and what audiences could expect in the future. 

Can't wait for more? Check back on September 16 for our first official episode, where Le breaks down his experience at the American Society of Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) 2024 annual meeting and the importance of measuring lipoprotein(a) for stratifying cardiovascular risk as well as other clinical pearls. 
All episodes of The APAC Recap will be available on HCPLive.com and on our 

The APAC Recap is a new multimedia series created through a partnership between APAC and HCPLive where members of the Academy of Physician Associates have peer-to-peer discussions centered around recent scientific congresses and meetings. 

Erin Pardee, PA-C

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