Initial and sustained cardiovascular risk reduction in a pharmacist-led diabetes cardiovascular risk clinic

BackgroundThe atherogenic milieu of hypertension, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia results in an excess of cardiovascular deaths in the diabetic population.ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy and long-term success of a pharmacist-delivered cardiovascular risk reduction clinic.MethodsPatients with diabetes not achieving blood pressure (BP) and lipid targets at a standard diabetes clinic had a mean of four visits to the pharmacist-delivered clinic.ResultsBP was significantly reduced by attending the clinic (mean reduction in clinic BP 23/10 mmHg). Ambulatory BP monitoring demonstrated a mean reduction of 13/9 mmHg from clinic entry to discharge and this effect was sustained six months post-discharge .Total cholesterol was reduced by 0.4 mmol/L (p=0.002) during clinic attendances and remained unchanged post discharge.ConclusionPatients previously thought to be `resistant' to treatment can have significant reductions in cardiovascular risk factors when enrolled in a short-lived, intense clinic set-up. This is ...