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Pharmacists' Impact on Secondary Stroke Prevention
Jennifer Andres1, Olivia Stanton-Ameisen2, Sara Walton2
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Journal of Pharmacy Practice
|March 30, 2018
Summary
Patients at a pharmacist-run stroke prevention clinic (SPC) had fewer secondary events like stroke or heart attack compared to usual care. This highlights the pharmacist's role in improving stroke and TIA outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Patients with cerebrovascular accident (stroke) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) require ongoing risk factor management.
- Pharmacist-led interventions are increasingly recognized for managing chronic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-run stroke prevention clinic (SPC).
- To compare patient outcomes in the SPC versus usual care for stroke and TIA patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of patients referred to the SPC.
- Collected risk factor data pre- and post-intervention.
- Compared hospital readmissions for secondary stroke/TIA, myocardial infarction (MI), and peripheral artery disease (PAD) between SPC patients and a control group (those not attending SPC).
Main Results:
- The primary composite endpoint (readmission for stroke/TIA, MI, new/incidental PAD) was significantly lower in the SPC group (P = .013).
- Improved surrogate markers including blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, HbA1c, and smoking cessation were observed in the SPC group.
- 455 patient records were reviewed from October 2012 to December 2014.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacists effectively manage medication and risk factors for stroke and TIA patients.
- SPC interventions can reduce secondary cardiovascular events and prevent future hospital admissions.
- Pharmacists play a vital role in secondary stroke prevention and improving patient outcomes.