A VISIT to the local pharmacy every week is good for medication adherence in elderly patients with a history of heart failure, a European study reveals.
Results from the PHARM-CHF trial released at the European Society of Cardiology scientific congress, Heart Failure 2019, highlighted the important role pharmacists play in boosting quality use of medicines.
As part of the trial, patients were directed to take their medications to a pharmacist for a medication review, during which the pharmacist assessed any potential adverse drug interactions and double-ups of medications.
The pharmacist discussed any changes with the patients' treating physician and patients received their medications in dose administration aid pillboxes with compartments for mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Co-author of the study, Professor Martin Schulz, from the Department of Pharmacy at Freie Universitart Berlin, revealed the patients' medication adherence had jumped from 44% at the beginning of the study period to 86% by the conclusion.
"Adhering to a complex medication regimen is hugely challenging for elderly patients with heart failure," he said.
"It's estimated that 30-50% of patients in Europe are non-adherent to heart failure medications, which results in increased frequency and severity of symptoms such as breathlessness, worsening of heart failure and consequent higher hospitalisations and higher mortality.
"The key point is that pharmacy visits need to be used as an opportunity to provide structured care," Shulz said.
Co-author and Director of the Department of Cardiology at Leipzig University, Professor Ulrich Laufs, said he believed that general practitioners and cardiologists would welcome pharmacist-led interventions to assist in treating their patients.
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