Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

What condition is associated with the same ASCVD risk as established coronary artery disease?

1. Ankle brachial index greater than 9

2. Abdominal aortic aneurysm

3. hs-CRP less than 1 mg/dL

4. ASCVD 10-year risk less than 10%

The correct answer is: Abdominal aortic aneurysm

The condition associated with the same atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk as established coronary artery disease is the abdominal aortic aneurysm. This links to the understanding that both established coronary artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm indicate significant underlying atherosclerosis and an increased risk for cardiovascular events. Patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm have similar cardiovascular risks to those with coronary artery disease because both conditions are manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis. Studies have shown that the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is an indicator of overall cardiovascular risk, suggesting a higher likelihood of experiencing major cardiovascular events. In contrast, having an ankle brachial index greater than 9 does not correlate with increased ASCVD risk; it actually suggests normal or near-normal arterial health. The level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) less than 1 mg/dL indicates low levels of inflammation, which generally relates to a lower cardiovascular risk. Finally, an ASCVD 10-year risk of less than 10% denotes a low likelihood of experiencing an ASCVD event in the next decade, which does not represent the same risk level as established coronary artery disease.