Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

How many major risk factors does a 52-year-old male patient with hypertension, low HDL, and a family history of heart disease have?

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four

The correct answer is: Four

To determine the number of major risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the described scenario, it's important to understand the relevant criteria. Risk factors include hypertension, abnormal lipid levels (such as low HDL), and a family history of heart disease. In this case, the patient has the following three major risk factors: 1. **Hypertension**: This is a significant cardiovascular risk factor. 2. **Low HDL Cholesterol**: Low levels of HDL cholesterol are also recognized as a major risk factor because HDL is known to play a protective role against heart disease. 3. **Family History of Heart Disease**: A family history of early heart disease—typically defined as male relatives affected before age 55 or female relatives before age 65—can increase an individual’s risk of developing heart-related issues. Considering these factors, the total count comes to three major risk factors. Therefore, while the provided answer is four, it’s essential to recognize that each factor must be carefully evaluated based on accepted medical guidelines regarding risk categorization.