Programa de atención farmacéutica integrada en pacientes con enfermedades crónicas / Integrated pharmaceutical care programme in patients with chronic diseases

Objetivo: Valorar si un programa de atención farmacéutica integrada (PAFI) en pacientes crónicos mejora la evolución clínica, la calidad de vida de los pacientes y disminuye el consumo de recursos sanitarios. Material y métodos Ensayo clínico, paralelo, abierto y multicéntrico de un PAFI en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) y/o enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) en 8 áreas de salud de Cataluña. Al paciente en intervención le realizaban seguimiento farmacoterapéutico los farmacéuticos de hospital, atención primaria y farmacia comunitaria. Al control, seguimiento habitual. Todos los pacientes fueron seguidos 12 meses y se les realizó un test de calidad de vida al inicio y final del seguimiento. Resultados Participaron 8 hospitales, 8 centros de atención primaria y 109 farmacias comunitarias. Finalizaron el estudio 238 pacientes con un porcentaje de pérdidas del 2,9%. No hubo diferencias significativas en reingresos, visitas al médico o urgencias. Se detectaron 50 problemas relacionados con medicamentos (PRM) en 37 pacientes, siendo estadísticamente significativa la diferencia de PRM entre el grupo intervención y control en pacientes con IC y casi significativa en pacientes con EPOC. El 36% de los PRM fueron moderados-graves. El 94% PRM fueron evitables y el farmacéutico los resolvió en el 90% de los casos. No hubo diferencias entre la calidad de vida al inicio y final del estudio ni en el consumo de recursos sanitarios. Conclusiones Los programas de atención farmacéutica integrada permiten la mejora de la calidad asistencial al paciente, no obstante es necesaria la utilización de registros electrónicos que faciliten la comunicación entre niveles asistenciales (AU)

Objectives: To assess whether an integrated pharmaceutical care programme (IPCP) improvesclinical evolution, patient quality of life, and reduces health costs in chronic patients. Material and methods: A parallel, open, and multi-centre clinical trial of an IPCP in patients with heart failure (HF) and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 8 different health areas in Cataluña. The intervened patient was monitored for pharmacotherapeutic evolution by hospital pharmacists, primary care physicians, and community pharmacists. Controls received normal follow-up. All patients were monitored for 12 months, with quality of life tests administered at the beginning and end of follow-up. Results: We had the participation of 8 different hospitals, 8 primary care centres, and109 community pharmacies. 238 patients completed the study, with 2.9% of participants lost during the study period. There were no significant differences in terms of readmissions, visits to the doctors, or to emergency services. We detected 50 different medication-related problems(MRP) in 37 patients, with a statistically significant difference in terms of MRP between the control and treatment groups of patients with HF, and almost significant differences in COPD patients. MRP were moderate-severe in 36% of cases. MRP were avoidable in 94% of cases, and the pharmacist resolved the issue in 90% of cases. There were no differences in terms of patient quality of life or health costs between the start and end of the study. Conclusions: Integrated pharmaceutical care programs facilitate an improvement in the quality of patient care, but electronic registries are necessary to promote communication between sections of the health care network (AU)

[Integrated pharmaceutical care programme in patients with chronic diseases]. / Programa de atención farmacéutica integrada en pacientes con enfermedades crónicas.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether an integrated pharmaceutical care programme (IPCP) improves clinical evolution, patient quality of life, and reduces health costs in chronic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A parallel, open, and multi-centre clinical trial of an IPCP in patients with heart failure (HF) and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 8 different health areas in Cataluña. The intervened patient was monitored for pharmacotherapeutic evolution by hospital pharmacists, primary care physicians, and community pharmacists. Controls received normal follow-up. All patients were monitored for 12 months, with quality of life tests administered at the beginning and end of follow-up. RESULTS: We had the participation of 8 different hospitals, 8 primary care centres, and 109 community pharmacies. 238 patients completed the study, with 2.9% of participants lost during the study period. There were no significant differences in terms of readmissions, visits to the doctors, or to emergency services. We detected 50 different medication-related problems (MRP) in 37 patients, with a statistically significant difference in terms of MRP between the control and treatment groups of patients with HF, and almost significant differences in COPD patients. MRP were moderate-severe in 36% of cases. MRP were avoidable in 94% of cases, and the pharmacist resolved the issue in 90% of cases. There were no differences in terms of patient quality of life or health costs between the start and end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Integrated pharmaceutical care programs facilitate an improvement in the quality of patient care, but electronic registries are necessary to promote communication between sections of the health care network.

Ensayo clínico aleatorizado de un programa de atención farmacéutica al alta frente a seguimiento habitual en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca / Randomized clinical trial of a postdischarge pharmaceutical care program vs. regular follow-up in patients with heart failure

Objetivo: Valorar la eficacia de una intervención educativa multifactorial realizada por un farmacéutico en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca (IC). Método: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado, prospectivo, abierto, en pacientes ingresados por IC. Los pacientes asignados al grupo intervención recibieron información sobre la enfermedad, el tratamiento farmacológico, educación dietética y seguimiento telefónico activo. Se realizaron visitas a los 2, 6 y 12 meses. Se evaluaron los reingresos hospitalarios, días de hospitalización, cumplimiento terapéutico, satisfacción con la atención recibida y calidad de vida (EuroQol); se realizó un estudio económico para valorar el posible impacto del programa. La intervención la efectuó el servicio de farmacia en coordinación con la unidad de cardiología. Resultados: Se han incluido 134 pacientes, de edad media 75 años, nivel de estudios bajo. Los pacientes del grupo intervención presentaron un mayor nivel de adherencia al tratamiento que los pacientes del grupo control. A los 12 meses de seguimiento, los pacientes del grupo intervención reingresaron un 32,9% menos que los del grupo control. El promedio de días de hospitalización por paciente en el grupo control fue de 9,6 (DE = 18,5) frente a 5,9 (DE = 14,1) del grupo intervención. No se registraron diferencias en la calidad de vida, pero el grupo intervención presentó mayor puntuación en la escala de satisfacción a los dos meses [9,0 (DE = 1,3) vs. 8,2 (DE = 1,8) p = 0,026]. Al ajustar un modelo de supervivencia de Cox con la fracción de eyección, los pacientes del grupo intervención presentaron un menor riesgo de reingreso (Hazard ratio 0,56; IC95%: 0,32-0,97). El análisis económico evidenció un ahorro en gastos hospitalarios de 578 € por paciente favorable al grupo intervención. Conclusiones: La atención farmacéutica al alta hospitalaria permite reducir el número de reingresos en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca, los días totales de hospitalización y mejora la adherencia al tratamiento sin aumentar los costes de la atención

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a multifactorial educational intervention carried out by a pharmacist in patients with heart failure (HF). Method: A randomized, prospective, open clinical trial in patients admitted for HF. The patients assigned to the intervention group received information about the disease, drug therapy, diet education, and active telephone follow-up. Visits were completed at 2, 6, and 12 months. Hospital re-admissions, days of hospital stay, treatment compliance, satisfaction with the care received, and quality of life (EuroQol) were evaluated; a financial study was conducted in order to assess the possible impact of the program. The intervention was performed by the pharmacy department in coordination with the cardiology unit. Results: 134 patients were included, with a mean age of 75 years and a low educational level. The patients of the intervention group had a higher level of treatment compliance than the patients in the control group. At 12 months of follow-up, 32.9% fewer patients in the intervention group were admitted again vs. the control group. The mean days of hospital stay per patient in the control group were 9.6 (SD = 18.5) vs. 5.9 (SD = 14.1) in the intervention group. No differences were recorded in quality of life, but the intervention group had a higher score in the satisfaction scale at two months [9.0 (SD = 1.3) versus 8.2 (SD = 1.8) p = 0.026]. Upon adjusting a Cox survival model with the ejection fraction, the patients in the intervention group had a lower risk of re-admission (Hazard ratio 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32-0.97). The financial analysis evidenced savings in hospital costs of € 578 per patient that were favorable to the intervention group. Conclusions: Postdischarge pharmaceutical care allows for reducing the number of new admissions in patients with heart failure, the total days of hospital stay, and improves treatment compliance without increasing the costs of care

Randomized clinical trial of a postdischarge pharmaceutical care program vs regular follow-up in patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a multifactorial educational intervention carried out by a pharmacist in patients with heart failure (HF). METHOD: A randomized, prospective, open clinical trial in patients admitted for HF. The patients assigned to the intervention group received information about the disease, drug therapy, diet education, and active telephone follow-up. Visits were completed at 2, 6, and 12 months. Hospital re-admissions, days of hospital stay, treatment compliance, satisfaction with the care received, and quality of life (EuroQol) were evaluated; a financial study was conducted in order to assess the possible impact of the program. The intervention was performed by the pharmacy department in coordination with the cardiology unit. RESULTS: 134 patients were included, with a mean age of 75 years and a low educational level. The patients of the intervention group had a higher level of treatment compliance than the patients in the control group. At 12 months of follow-up, 32.9% fewer patients in the intervention group were admitted again vs. the control group. The mean days of hospital stay per patient in the control group were 9.6 (SD=18.5) vs. 5.9 (SD=14.1) in the intervention group. No differences were recorded in quality of life, but the intervention group had a higher score in the satisfaction scale at two months [9.0 (SD=1.3) versus 8.2 (SD=1.8) p=0.026]. Upon adjusting a Cox survival model with the ejection fraction, the patients in the intervention group had a lower risk of re-admission (Hazard ratio 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32-0.97). The financial analysis evidenced savings in hospital costs of euro 578 per patient that were favorable to the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Postdischarge pharmaceutical care allows for reducing the number of new admissions in patients with heart failure, the total days of hospital stay, and improves treatment compliance without increasing the costs of care.

Análisis sistemático de la utilización de antibióticos como estrategia útil para mejorar la calidad de la prescripción / Systematic analysis of antibiotic use as a useful strategy to improve quality of prescription

Objetivo: Valorar la eficacia de una intervención pluridisciplinar sobre la utilización de antibióticos para mejorar la calidad de la prescripción en este grupo de medicamentos. Material y métodos: Análisis comparativo de la evolución de la prescripción de tres antibióticos de vigilancia especial: aztreonam, ciprofloxacina y ceftriaxona. Como unidad técnica de medida utilizamos la Dosis Diaria Prescrita (DDP), y como indicador de calidad el grado de adaptación a la jerarquización de antibióticos. Finalmente, realizamos una valoración económica de los resultados. Resultados: Tras la intervención, se observa una mejora en el perfil de utilización de los antibióticos estudiados, de acuerdo con los criterios marcados por la política de antiinfecciosos del centro, sumado a un impacto económico positivo. Conclusión: Este método de trabajo se muestra como una herramienta eficiente, y reproducible en centros similares al nues tro, para mejorar la calidad de la prescripción antibiótica (AU)