Pharmaceutical care program for type 2 diabetes patients in Brazil: a randomised controlled trial

• DOI: 10.1007/s11096-012-9710-7
• Publication Date: 2012-11-17T16:49:11Z
• Authors: Aline Oliveira Ma...; Wandiclécia Rodri...; Maria Auxiliadora...; Adriano Max Morei...; Maria Ruth Gaede ...; Andrea Grabe Guim...; Lisiane Silveira Ev
• Keywords: Pharmaceutical Care

Brazilians with type 2 diabetes require action to improve haemoglobin A1C levels considering the fact that approximately 73 % of them have poor glycaemic control. Evidence has shown the potential benefits of pharmaceutical care programs in type 2 diabetes patients.To evaluate the effect of a pharmaceutical care program on blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid profile in hyperglycaemic patients undergoing drug treatment for type 2 diabetes.Six primary care units of the Brazilian public health system, Ouro Preto, Brazil.An open, randomised, controlled clinical trial was conducted for 6 months. Subjects aged 18 years or older who were using oral antidiabetic medications and presenting haemoglobin A1C levels ≥7 % were randomly assigned to receive only usual health care or usual health care plus pharmaceutical intervention. Main outcome measure Haemoglobin A1C.A total of 129 subjects were enrolled, and 100 patients completed the study. Compared to the control group (n = 50), the intervention group (n = 50) showed a significant reduction of haemoglobin A1C (-0.6 vs 0.7 %, p = 0.001), fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure and a significant increase in HDL cholesterol and the use of lipid-modifying agents and platelet aggregation inhibitors.This study suggests that a pharmaceutical care program may provide important contributions to reduce haemoglobin A1C in type 2 diabetes patients. Moreover, the promotion of the rational use of drugs may be better achieved in a context of pharmaceutical care programs in Brazil.