The effect of pharmacist intervention and patient education on lipid-lowering medication compliance and plasma cholesterol levels.

BACKGROUND

Dyslipidemias are a modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease. The benefits of cholesterol reduction drug therapies are limited by poor patient compliance with drug regimens.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the impact of a community pharmacist pilot disease-management program on patient compliance with lipid-lowering drug therapy and on serum cholesterol levels.

METHODS

One hundred forty-nine patients who were nonadherent to prescribed hypolipidemic drug regimens were recruited for this six-month prospective study. Each subject served as their own control. Pharmacists educated these patients on lipid disorders, the benefit of medication compliance and lifestyle modifications that reduce the risk for coronary heart disease. Pharmacists followed up participants by telephone at two-month intervals. Drug renewal rates were monitored throughout the study and plasma lipid levels were measured at study outset and study end.

RESULTS

Pharmacist intervention and patient-education programs significantly increased medication compliance, as shown by a 15.3% increase (P<0.05) in the number of compliant patients and an 11 day (P<0.001) reduction in the average number of days to prescription renewal. Concurrently, levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, were reduced by 6%, 16.2%, and 8.5% (P<0.001, 0.01, 0.01), respectively. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol remained relatively unchanged (+0.7%) so that the LDL to HDL ratio was improved by 17.2% overall (P<0.01). Almost all of the patients (99.2%) were satisfied with the program and expressed a willingness to pay an average $34.50 per 30 min consultation for the pharmacist services offered.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists can contribute significantly to disease management of dyslipidemic individuals.