Pharmacist-Led Intervention Lowers HbA1c in Type 2 Diabetes

THURSDAY, Sept. 28, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A pharmacist-led intervention (UCMyRx) can result in a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentration among Hispanic patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a study published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Network Open.

Kimberly Danae Cauley Narain, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., from the University of California in Los Angeles, and colleagues examined the association of the UCMyRx intervention with HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (SBP) among 931 patients with T2D, self-reporting Hispanic ethnicity. Participants had one or more visits with a UCMyRx pharmacist (treatment) or two or more visits, two or more years apart, during the study window (March 2, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2018; comparison). The exposure included review of laboratory results, medication reconciliation, and development of personally tailored interventions to address barriers to adherence and increase guideline-concordant care.

The researchers found that having one or more UCMyRx visits was associated with a reduction in HbA1c concentration in adjusted analyses (β = −0.46 percent), but no change was seen in SBP.

"Given the potential of pharmacist-led interventions like UCMyRx to help improve outcomes in T2D while simultaneously supporting primary care physicians, it is important to facilitate their broader uptake," the authors write.

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