Pharmacist-directed care or in collaboration with physicians or nurses improve the management of major CVD risk factors in out patients
BACKGROUND Pharmacists may improve the clinical management of major risk factors for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) prevention .
A systematic review was conducted to determine the impact of pharmacist care on the management of  CVD risk factors among out patients .
Effect of pharmacist intervention and initiation of home blood pressure monitoring in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
This prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled study evaluated the impact of pharmacist-initiated home blood pressure monitoring and intervention on blood pressure control , therapy compliance , and quality of life ( QOL ) .  Subjects were 36 patients with uncontrolled stage 1 or 2 hypertension . Eighteen subjects received  home blood pressure monitors , a diary , and instructions to measure blood pressure twice every morning . Home measurements were evaluated by a clinical pharmacist by telephone , and the patient 's family physician was contacted with recommendations if mean monthly values were 140/90 mm Hg or higher . Eighteen control patients did not receive home monitors or pharmacist intervention .  Office blood pressure measurements and QOL surveys ( SF-36 ) were obtained at baseline and after 6 months . Mean absolute reductions in systolic and diastolic pressures were significantly reduced from baseline in intervention subjects ( 17.0 and 10.5 mm Hg , both p < 0.0001 ) but not in controls ( 7.0 and 3.8 mm Hg , p = 0.12 and p = 0.09 ) . More intervention subjects ( 8) had blood pressure values below 140/90 at 6 months compared with controls ( 4 ) . During the study 83.3 % ( 15 ) of intervention subjects had drug therapy changes versus 33 % ( 6 ) of controls ( p < 0.01 ) . Compliance and QOL were not significantly affected . Our data suggest that the combination of pharmacist intervention with home monitoring can improve blood pressure control in patients with uncontrolled hypertension . This may be related to increased modifications of drug regimens
Pharmacist-directed care or in collaboration with physicians or nurses improve the management of major CVD risk factors in out patients
BACKGROUND Pharmacists may improve the clinical management of major risk factors for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) prevention .
A systematic review was conducted to determine the impact of pharmacist care on the management of  CVD risk factors among out patients .