Pharmacist-led CKD management has mixed economic, clinical results
Key takeaways:
- Pharmacist-led management was linked to improvements in systolic blood pressure and hemoglobin levels.
- Interventions did not improve eGFR and LDL cholesterol levels.
Pharmacist-led interventions for managing chronic kidney disease were associated with positive health results but had mixed economic, clinical and patient satisfaction outcomes, according to results of a meta-analysis.
“Pharmacists are well-positioned within the health care team to manage people with CKD,” Ashkon Ardavani, MPharm, MSc, a doctoral student at the Leicester Diabetes Centre at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, wrote with colleagues. While pharmacist interventions can include managing medication and education, they wrote, “data are limited regarding the impact of pharmacist interventions on economic, clinical and humanistic outcomes.”
The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that included adults with CKD either using or not using kidney replacement therapy. Researchers gathered economic data, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction results. Overall, 32 trials reported 10 economic, 211 clinical and 18 humanistic outcomes.
Researchers considered sociodemographic traits, such as age, sex and ethnicity, and clinical characteristics. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacists in improving patient care.
Data showed pharmacist interventions led to statistically significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin levels and other parameters; however, they did not show notable changes in eGFR and LDL cholesterol levels. Researchers found mixed results for clinical and economic outcomes.
Although some clinical and economic metrics had inconsistent results, pharmacist interventions were associated with particularly improved patient satisfaction and knowledge outcomes.
“Future studies should be more robustly designed and take into consideration the role of the pharmacist in prescribing and deprescribing, the findings of which will help inform research and clinical practice,” the researchers wrote.
Collapse
Ardavani A, et al. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2023;doi.org/10.1016/j.xkme.2024.10.1093/ndt/gfae221.
Read more about