Practice Test Geeks(CCS) Certified Cardiovascular Specialist Practice Test
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Patient Care & Risk Management Flashcards

7 cards from real CCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. A 72-year-old patient is admitted with NSTEMI. Which risk stratification tool is most commonly used to guide early invasive vs. conservative management?

    Answer: TIMI Risk Score for NSTEMI

    The TIMI Risk Score for UA/NSTEMI stratifies patients into low, intermediate, and high risk to guide the decision for early invasive therapy.

  2. During a patient education session on warfarin therapy, a patient asks what INR range they should maintain for mechanical mitral valve replacement. What is the correct target?

    Answer: 2.5–3.5

    Mechanical mitral valve replacement requires a target INR of 2.5–3.5 due to higher thromboembolism risk compared to aortic valve prostheses.

  3. A patient with type 2 diabetes and established ASCVD is being managed for glycemic control. Which antidiabetic drug class has demonstrated cardiovascular mortality benefit in this population?

    Answer: SGLT-2 inhibitors

    SGLT-2 inhibitors (e.g., empagliflozin, canagliflozin) have demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization in patients with T2DM and ASCVD.

  4. A 60-year-old with hypertension and dyslipidemia reports erectile dysfunction after starting a beta-blocker. What is the MOST appropriate management step?

    Answer: Consider switching to a vasodilating beta-blocker (e.g., carvedilol) or alternative antihypertensive

    Non-vasodilating beta-blockers are associated with erectile dysfunction; switching to carvedilol or an alternative antihypertensive class may resolve the side effect.

  5. A cardiovascular specialist reviews a patient's echocardiogram showing severe aortic stenosis (AVA 0.8 cm², mean gradient 45 mmHg). The patient is asymptomatic. What is the recommended surveillance interval?

    Answer: Repeat echo every 6–12 months

    Asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis warrants close follow-up with echocardiography every 6–12 months to monitor for symptom onset or hemodynamic deterioration.

  6. When counseling a patient about fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) for cardiovascular risk reduction, which statement BEST reflects current evidence?

    Answer: Icosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at 4 g/day has demonstrated MACE reduction in high-risk hypertriglyceridemic patients

    The REDUCE-IT trial demonstrated that high-dose EPA (icosapentaenoic acid, 4 g/day) significantly reduced MACE in statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides.

  7. A patient with hypertensive urgency (BP 185/115 mmHg, no end-organ damage) presents to the outpatient clinic. What is the MOST appropriate immediate management?

    Answer: Start or adjust oral antihypertensive therapy and arrange follow-up within 24–72 hours

    Hypertensive urgency without end-organ damage is managed with oral antihypertensives and close outpatient follow-up, not emergency IV therapy.