Evaluation of a collaborative care program for pulmonary hypertension patients: a multicenter randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe chronic disease requiring complex drug management.
• Advancements in PH treatment improve survival but increase risks of drug-related problems.
• Optimizing medication management is crucial for PH patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacist involvement in collaborative care for pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients.
• To assess the effect of pharmacist-led interventions on drug-related problems and healthcare costs.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial involving 92 incident PH patients over 18 months.
• Patients were randomized to either collaborative care with clinical pharmacists or usual care.
• Collaborative care included regular pharmacist-patient interviews for medication review and education.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in the number of drug-related problems between groups (1.6 vs. 1.9).
• Significantly higher problem resolution rates in the collaborative care group (86.5% vs. 66.7%, p=0.01).
• Collaborative care reduced costs associated with drug-related hospitalizations.

Conclusions:

• Integrating clinical pharmacists into PH multidisciplinary care enhances drug-related problem resolution and lowers hospitalization costs.
• The study found no significant effect on medication errors, clinical outcomes, or adherence.
• Pharmacist involvement is beneficial for managing drug-related issues and economic aspects in PH care.