Study finds pharmacist intervention improved diabetes control for Hispanic patients

A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that an intervention involving patient assessments by trained pharmacists in conjunction with primary care physicians led to better glycemic control among Hispanic patients with T2D.

The patients’ blood glucose levels fell by a mean of 0.46% within a year of participating in at least one visit with a UCMyRx-trained pharmacist, according to the research.

The UCMyRx program was launched in 2012 in the Los Angeles area across 38 primary care clinics. Under the program, clinical pharmacists who undergo training in motivational interviewing are integrated within primary care practices. Their functions include evaluating laboratory results and vital signs, performing medication reconciliation, and gauging medication adherence using a standardized measure.

In the study, the researchers noted a sensitivity analysis revealing that just one pharmacist intervention visit was linked with notably lower blood glucose levels.

However, visits in excess of the median number of visits did not appear to have a significant effect. The study did not identify a major difference in systolic BP change, but this co-primary endpoint measure was at a comparatively low level among study participants from the onset, with a mean of 136 mm Hg, the researchers noted.

“A pharmacist-led intervention may be a strategy for improving some outcomes among Hispanic patients with type 2 diabetes,” the researchers said. Further, they noted that economic models have predicted that a 0.4% decrease in HbA1C concentration would significantly reduce microvascular and macrovascular complications among patients with diabetes over 25 years, taking into account age, sex, risk factors, and preexisting complications.