RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The majority of patients who receive antihypertensive treatment do not achieve adequate blood pressure (BP) outcomes. Adherence to antihypertensive therapy contributes to adequate control of BP and is a substantial reason for therapeutic success. This study aims to evaluate the role of clinical pharmacists in improving patient adherence to pharmacological treatment and in improving BP outcomes. METHODS: A pre- and postpharmaceutical care interventional study was provided to hypertensive patients in the Cardiovascular Health Program of the Family Health Community Hospital in rural Coelemu, Chile. Patients received pharmaceutical care in three individualized sessions over 6 months. Written educational materials including basic information on high BP were provided to each patient in every session using easy-to-understand language. BP was measured at the beginning and end of each session using an electronic tensiometer, and patients reported their adherence to therapy using indirect, self-reported measures. FINDINGS: Over the study period, patients experienced average decreases in systolic and diastolic BP of 7.68 mmHg (P < 0.001) and 2.91 mmHg (P < 0.001), respectively. Patient adherence to medication, according to self-reported measures, increased from 22% to 60% over the study period. CONCLUSION: Pharmaceutical care, including education about hypertension, healthy lifestyle habits, and adherence, was associated with improved adherence to antihypertensive drug treatment and control of BP in hypertensive patients at a rural hospital in Chile.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare the prevalence of prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) identified using the Beers and STOPP criteria; and to determine the clinical variables related with the prescription of PIMs in older adults. METHODS: An observational study of 250 patients aged 65 years or older was conducted in a large teaching hospital. Beers (2012) and STOPP (2008) criteria were utilized to identify PIMs. Data on age, sex, admission and discharge dates, diagnoses, and medications prescribed were obtained from medical records. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine patient variables related with the prescription of PIMs. KEY FINDINGS: Using Beers criteria, 375 PIMs were identified in 198 patients. 32% of these patients were prescribed one PIM, 20% were prescribed two PIMs, and 48% were prescribed more than two PIMs. Using STOPP criteria, 148 PIMs were identified in 120 patients. 41% of these patients were prescribed one PIM, 51% were prescribed two PIMs, and 8% were prescribed more than two PIMs. An association between PIM prescribing and polypharmacy was detected with both criteria. After adjusting for confounding variables, the prescription of Beers-identified PIMs was significantly associated with patients older than 80 (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.13-7.89) and with length of hospital stay of more than 15days (OR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.20-6.44). CONCLUSION: These two criteria showed that the prescription of PIMs is prevalent in hospitalized elderly patients. It may be beneficial to educate healthcare teams about these criteria to reduce the prescription of PIMs.
Assuntos
Doença Crônica/tratamento farmacológico , Prescrição Inadequada/prevenção & controle , Polimedicação , Lista de Medicamentos Potencialmente Inapropriados/organização & administração , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Chile , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Non-adherence to prescribed treatment is a principle cause of treatment failure in patients with chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension. Improved patient monitoring and education have been shown to improve adherence and clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the impact of a pharmacotherapy optimization plan centered on patient education that was implemented at a hospital in Arauco, Chile. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted using 50 randomly selected patients diagnosed with both T2DM and hypertension. Each patient participated in three successive interview sessions over 6 months. At each session, the following variables were evaluated by a pharmacist: blood pressure, HbA1c, adherence to prescribed medication, and patient knowledge of disease. RESULTS: Significant decreases were observed for HbA1c (<0.001), and SBP (<0.001), with stronger and more significant decreases observed for females. Patient adherence to prescribed medication also improved, but not significantly. The number of patients with full knowledge of their diseases increased significantly (p < 0.001) from 10 to 66%. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the incorporation of a pharmacotherapeutic optimization plan for patients with chronic diseases can have a positive impact on the control of chronic diseases, such as T2DM and hypertension.