68 % of the outcomes reported showed that clinical pharmacy services were associated with better improvement in patients ' outcomes compared with the control group .
The involvement of a pharmacist demonstrated an ability to improve CVD outcomes through providing educational intervention , medicine management intervention , or a combination of both .
These interventions result ed in improved CVD risk factors , improved patient outcomes , and reduced number of drug-related problems with a direct effect on CVD control .
These improvements may lead to an improvement in patient quality of life , better use of health care re sources , and a reduced rate of mortality
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) is considered to be the main cause of death and one of the most common diseases affecting health care systems worldwide .
Many methods have been used to improve CVD outcomes , one of which is to involve clinical pharmacists in the direct care of patients with CVD .
OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review assessing the effectiveness of clinical pharmacist interventions within a multidisciplinary team in the secondary prevention of CVD , using studies conducted on patients with heart failure , coronary heart disease , or those with CVD risk factors .
Pharmaceutical care of patients with congestive heart failure: interventions and outcomes.
We evaluated a structured pharmaceutical care program for elderly patients ( > 65 yrs ) with congestive heart failure ( CHF ) based on objective measures of disease control , quality of life , and use of health care facilities in a r and omized , controlled , longitudinal , prospect i ve clinical trial . The 42 patients in group A received education from a pharmacist on the disease and its treatment , and lifestyle changes that could help control symptoms . Patients also were encouraged to monitor their symptoms and comply with prescribed drug therapy . If necessary , dosage regimens were simplified in liaison with hospital physicians . The 41 control patients ( group B ) received st and ard care . The following outcome measures were assessed in all patients at baseline ( before the start of the trial ) and at 3 , 6 , 9 , and 12 months : 2-minute walk test , blood pressure , body weight , pulse , forced vital capacity , quality of life [ disease-specific ( Minnesota Living with Heart Failure question naire ) and generic ( SF-36 ) ] , knowledge of symptoms and drugs , compliance with therapy , and use of health care facilities ( hospital admissions , visits to emergency room , emergency calls ) . Patients in group A showed improved compliance with drug therapy , which in turn improved their exercise capacity compared with those in group B ; education on management of symptoms , lifestyle changes , and dietary recommendations were also of benefit . Group A patients significantly improved knowledge of their drug therapy over the 12-month study and had fewer hospital admissions compared with group B patients . They also had improved outcomes compared with group B , despite the small sample s. An extension of this trial to other sites with pooling of results would provide additional evidence of the value of this structured program in elderly patients with CHF
68 % of the outcomes reported showed that clinical pharmacy services were associated with better improvement in patients ' outcomes compared with the control group .
The involvement of a pharmacist demonstrated an ability to improve CVD outcomes through providing educational intervention , medicine management intervention , or a combination of both .
These interventions result ed in improved CVD risk factors , improved patient outcomes , and reduced number of drug-related problems with a direct effect on CVD control .
These improvements may lead to an improvement in patient quality of life , better use of health care re sources , and a reduced rate of mortality
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) is considered to be the main cause of death and one of the most common diseases affecting health care systems worldwide .
Many methods have been used to improve CVD outcomes , one of which is to involve clinical pharmacists in the direct care of patients with CVD .
OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review assessing the effectiveness of clinical pharmacist interventions within a multidisciplinary team in the secondary prevention of CVD , using studies conducted on patients with heart failure , coronary heart disease , or those with CVD risk factors .