Pharmacist-led intervention aimed at deprescribing and appropriate use of cardiometabolic medication among people with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND

Potential overtreatment with cardiometabolic medication (i.e., glucose lowering medication, antihypertensives and statins) has been observed in 10-40% of older people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

OBJECTIVE

The potential effects of a pharmacist-led clinical medication review targeted at T2D patients who were at high risk of hypoglycaemia will be investigated.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted in 14 Dutch community pharmacies. Patients with a high risk of hypoglycaemia were identified using a previously developed algorithm. Pharmacists confirmed eligibility and selected patients for the intervention. Remaining eligible patients were included as controls receiving usual care. The primary outcome was the proportion of intervention patients for whom an action on deprescribing or appropriate use of cardiometabolic medication was implemented. After three months, changes in cardiometabolic medication were compared between the intervention and control group using a Fischer exact test.

RESULTS

In total 90 intervention patients and 107 control patients were included. Intervention patients had an average age of 70, used on average 10 medications, five of which were cardiometabolic medication. For half of the intervention patients an action on deprescribing cardiometabolic medication was implemented (n = 25) and/or an advice about appropriate use of cardiometabolic medication was given (n = 22). In 48% of intervention patients at least one cardiometabolic medication (e.g. insulin, sulfonylurea, diuretic, beta-blocker, statin) was either stopped or reduced in dose compared to 31% of control patients (p = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

A pharmacist-led tailored clinical medication review has the potential to increase deprescribing and improve appropriate use of cardiometabolic medication in half of T2D patients at high risk of hypoglycaemia.