Assessment of a clinical pharmaceutical service for hypertensive and/or diabetic patients in a primary healthcare center

Abstract

*Corresponding author: yurifirmino@yahoo.com.br Abstract Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the short- and long-term outcomes of a clinical service provided by a pharmacist structured in a primary healthcare center (PHC) in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Methods: A longitudinal-type study was conducted. Data were collected from pharmacotherapy follow-up (PTF) records from the Pharmaceutical Care Unit of the PHC Dr. Anastácio Magalhães. The PTF was provided to patients diagnosed with hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus. Two groups were formed: records of patients who intended to undergo six months or more of PTF (PTF group) and those who opted not to go through with it after the first session (control). In addition, new blood pressure and glucose measurements were obtained after invitation by phone call at least six months after the completion of the PTF to assess maintenance of the benefits gained. The control patients were invited for this new data collection as well for comparison purposes. Research Ethics Committee approval protocol n o . 329.717. Results: A total of 224 patients were considered, 109 in the complete PTF group and 115 in the control group, where the following main results were obtained: systolic pressure (mean ± SD) went from 139.43±20.6 to 128.31±16.03 mmHg; diastolic pressure, from 82.45±11.44 to 77.68±9.21 mmHg; blood glucose, from151.78±75.8 to 121.39±47.56 mg/dL; and cardiovascular risk, from 21.59±9.42 to 18.95±9.06%. In comparison, the control group did not show significant changes on the above parameters. In the post-PTF analysis, the benefits gained tended to be maintained even at least six months after its conclusion. Conclusions: Thus, the findings of the present study suggest that the provision of the clinical pharmaceutical service assessed at the primary healthcare level offers benefits to patients who attended it for at least six months. Furthermore, the data also suggest that these benefits are maintained in