Value of estimating pulse wave velocity compared to SCORE in cardiovascular risk stratification in community pharmacies / Valor de la estimación de la velocidad de onda de pulso en comparación con SCORE en la estratificación del riesgo cardiovascular en farmacias comunitarias

Objectives Arterial stiffness is considered to be an intermediate marker with independent prognostic value. The objective of this study is to assess whether the estimation of arterial stiffness can improve CV risk stratification compared to SCORE in patients at community pharmacies. Methods Observational prospective epidemiological study in which consecutive individuals entering a participating Community Pharmacy are offered a voluntary measurement of blood pressure and estimation of pulse wave velocity by oscillometry (AGEDIO, IEM®) to stratify their CV risk according to SCORE compared to the use of arterial stiffness. Results After nine months of recruitment, data from 923 patients (570 women, 353 men) were collected. 16/122 (13.1%) patients under 40 years and 72/364 (19.8%) over 65 years of age presented pathological stiffness and could be classified as high-risk, even though being out of the age-range of SCORE. Of the 437 (47.3%) patients who were susceptible to calculating SCORE, 42/437 patients (9.6%) presented pathological arterial stiffness. Cholesterol values were available in 281 patients (64.3%). Among them, according to SCORE, only 6 (2.1%) fell into the high-risk category. Conclusions More than half of the subjects who randomly enter a community pharmacy had ages that make it impossible to calculate the CV risk by SCORE. Among them, arterial damage was detected in 18.1%. Of the other half, 9.6% presented arterial damage and, therefore, high CV risk, when SCORE only detected it in 2.1%. Therefore, estimating arterial stiffness in community pharmacies markedly improves detection of high CV risk compared to SCORE (AU)

Objetivos La rigidez arterial es un marcador intermedio con valor pronóstico independiente. Nuestro objetivo es valorar si la estimación de la rigidez arterial puede mejorar la estratificación del riesgo cardiovascular (CV) en comparación con SCORE. Métodos Estudio epidemiológico observacional prospectivo en el que se ofrece a pacientes consecutivos que entran en una farmacia participante la medición voluntaria de la presión arterial y de la velocidad de onda de pulso estimada por oscilometría (AGEDIO, IEM®) para estratificar su riesgo CV según SCORE o según la presencia de rigidez arterial. Resultados Tras 9 meses de reclutamiento, presentamos datos de 923 pacientes (570 mujeres, 353 hombres). Dieciséis/122 (13,1%) pacientes <40años y 72/364 (19,8%) >65años presentaron rigidez arterial patológica y fueron clasificados de alto riesgo, aun hallándose fuera del rango de edad de SCORE. De los 437 (47,3%) pacientes evaluables por SCORE, 42/437 pacientes (9,6%) mostraron rigidez elevada. Los valores de colesterol estaban disponibles en 281 de estos pacientes (64,3%). Entre ellos, según SCORE, solo 6 (2,1%) eran de la categoría de alto riesgo. Conclusiones Más de la mitad de sujetos que entran aleatoriamente en una farmacia comunitaria tenían edades situadas fuera de los rangos de SCORE, imposibilitando el cálculo del riesgo CV con SCORE. En este grupo se constató daño arterial en el 18,1%. En la otra mitad, el 9,6% presentaron daño vascular y, consecuentemente, riesgo elevado, mientras que SCORE solo detectó riesgo elevado en el 2,1%. Por tanto, la estimación de la rigidez arterial en farmacias comunitarias mejora claramente la detección de riesgo CV elevado en comparación con SCORE (AU)

Value of estimating pulse wave velocity compared to SCORE in cardiovascular risk stratification in community pharmacies.

OBJECTIVES: Arterial stiffness is considered to be an intermediate marker with independent prognostic value. The objective of this study is to assess whether the estimation of arterial stiffness can improve CV risk stratification compared to SCORE in patients at community pharmacies. METHODS: Observational prospective epidemiological study in which consecutive individuals entering a participating Community Pharmacy are offered a voluntary measurement of blood pressure and estimation of pulse wave velocity by oscillometry (AGEDIO, IEM®) to stratify their CV risk according to SCORE compared to the use of arterial stiffness. RESULTS: After nine months of recruitment, data from 923 patients (570 women, 353 men) were collected. 16/122 (13.1%) patients under 40 years and 72/364 (19.8%) over 65 years of age presented pathological stiffness and could be classified as high-risk, even though being out of the age-range of SCORE. Of the 437 (47.3%) patients who were susceptible to calculating SCORE, 42/437 patients (9.6%) presented pathological arterial stiffness. Cholesterol values were available in 281 patients (64.3%). Among them, according to SCORE, only 6 (2.1%) fell into the high-risk category. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the subjects who randomly enter a community pharmacy had ages that make it impossible to calculate the CV risk by SCORE. Among them, arterial damage was detected in 18.1%. Of the other half, 9.6% presented arterial damage and, therefore, high CV risk, when SCORE only detected it in 2.1%. Therefore, estimating arterial stiffness in community pharmacies markedly improves detection of high CV risk compared to SCORE.

Prescripciones potencialmente inadecuadas en pacientes ancianos polimedicados. Intervención y seguimiento del farmacéutico comunitario / Potentially inadequate prescriptions in polymedicated elderly patients. Community pharmacist's intervention and follow-up

Introducción: Las prescripciones potencialmente inadecuadas son causas de aparición de problemas relacionados con los medicamentos y de resultados negativos de la medicación, principalmente en ancianos. Los estudios en farmacia comunitaria son escasos. Objetivos: Mejorar la farmacoterapia de pacientes mayores de 65 años polimedicados mediante entrevista con el paciente. Realizar un perfil farmacoterapéutico, de hábitos en salud y adherencia. Medir la intervención del farmacéutico, derivación y satisfacción del paciente. Hacer una evaluación económica. Metodología: Se diseñó un estudio piloto descriptivo en pacientes de una farmacia comunitaria en Valencia. Se recogieron datos en una base Microsoft Acces((R). Se midió la prevalencia de las prescripciones potencialmente inadecuadas mediante los criterios STOPP-START (2014) utilizando el software informático Checkthemeds(R). Resultados: Se realizó sobre 88 pacientes, 77 (87,5%) finalizaron. La prevalencia de prescripciones potencialmente inadecuadas fue de un 33,0% (26,0% STOPP y 7,0% START), siendo la sección A de los criterios STOPP la mayoritaria (duplicidades terapéuticas y fármacos sin indicación basada en la evidencia). El estreñimiento fue la condición clínica más prevalente. También destacó la falta de adherencia (52,0%), así como un 77,0% de pacientes sin los requerimientos hídricos necesarios. Se intervino en un 36,0% de las prescripciones potencialmente inadecuadas encontradas con un grado de aceptación del 14,0%. Se estimó que en un 9,0% de las ocasiones se evitó derivación con un ahorro medio de 6,57 Euros/paciente. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de los criterios STOPP fue similar a otros estudios. La de los criterios START menor. La entrevista permite descartar falsas prescripciones potencialmente inadecuadas. La revisión sistemática y protocolizada mejora la farmacoterapia mediante la detección en intervención en las prescripciones potencialmente inadecuadas

Background: Potentially inappropriate prescriptions are related with Medication Related Problems and Negative Medication Results, especially in the elderly. Few studies in community pharmacy are available. Objectives: To improve pharmacotherapy in patients over 65 years receiving more than five medicines. We investigated pharmacotherapy, healthy style, treatment adherence by conducting an open interview with the community pharmacist. Pharmacists' interventions, patients' satisfaction and costs were reported. Patients and methods: A descriptive study in a community pharmacy in Valencia (Spain) was designed. Data were collected in a Microsoft Acces (R) database and prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions STOPP/START criteria 2014 was evaluated with the Checkthemeds (R) software. Results: 88 patients were enroled and 77 patients completed the study (87.5%). Prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions was 33.0% (27.0% STOPP, 7.0% START criteria). A section (duplicities and low evidence treatments) was the most representative. Constipation was very common between the patients. Non-compliant patients (52.0%) and low hydration (77.0%) were important too. 36.0% of potentially inappropriate prescriptions required pharmacist intervention with 14.0% of agreement. 9.0% of potentially inappropriate prescriptions avoided medical intervention with a save of 6,57 Euros per patient. Conclusions: The prevalence of STOPP criteria was similar to that other studies. That of minor START criteria. The interview allows to eliminate false, potentially inadequate prescriptions. The systematic and protocolized review improves pharmacotherapy by identifying and intervening in potentially inadequate prescriptions