fewer hospital admissions and 50% less visits to accident and emergency
departments when clinical pharmacists intervene in their care, research
launched at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester has
shown.
Six months into a year-long study on a pharmacy-led disease and medicine
management programme in patients with COPD (an umbrella term for serious
respiratory diseases like emphysema), pharmacy researchers in Belfast have
shown that the involvement of a clinical pharmacist improves patients'
health-related quality of life and results in greater cost-effectiveness for
the NHS.
Patients in the study group reported 81% adherence to medication regimes,
compared to only 60% in the control group.
The study maintained a strong focus on self-management because COPD
patients may benefit from the early intervention that comes from following
self-management plans(1),(2), which may prevent a crisis and possibly the
need for hospital admission.
Lead researcher, Maher Al-khdour, said: "This ongoing study indicates
that a management programme led by clinical pharmacists can improve
adherence, reduce the need for hospital care in patients with moderate to
severe COPD and improve their quality of life."
Through a separate study investigating inhaler treatments for patients
with asthma and COPD, John Moores University pharmacy researchers in
Liverpool found that switching inhaler medicines could result in NHS savings
of ??5,100 a year. Two similar and equally effective inhalers are available -
the newer Symbicort inhaler is not as well-known or prescribed as often as
the Seratide inhaler, but is much cheaper.
Head researcher, Lewis Brien, said: "This study indicates considerable
progress in the management of these chronic respiratory diseases. It also
highlights the fact that more detailed clinical interventions can result in
both health and cost benefits - a demonstration of the value and expertise of
pharmacists."
About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is an umbrella term covering a range of conditions including chronic
bronchitis and emphysema. It is a long term condition that leads to damaged
airways, causing them to become narrow, making it harder for air to get in
and out of the lungs. There is no cure for COPD, but it can be managed
through drug therapy.
The World Health Organisation estimates suggest that COPD will become the
third leading cause of death, world-wide, by 2030:
who.int/gard/news_events/World_Health_Statistics_2008/en/
About Asthma
Asthma affects the airways of the lungs (
nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Lung ) (the bronchi) which causes the
airways to become inflamed and swollen. The bronchi are small tubes that
carry air in and out of the lungs. In asthmatics, bronchi are more sensitive
than normal and certain substances, or triggers, can irritate them.
Common triggers include house dust mites, animal fur, pollen, tobacco
smoke, cold air, and chest infections. When the bronchi are irritated, they
become narrow and the muscles around them tighten, which can increase the
production of sticky mucus, or phlegm. This makes it difficult to breathe,
and causes wheezing (nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Wheezing),
coughing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest.
The United Kingdom has one of the highest incidences of asthma in the
world(3). Over 5 million people suffer from the condition(4), which causes
around 2000 deaths annually; approximately 90% of which are avoidable(3).
Despite better health care and medical advances, asthma is the only
disease in the UK still increasing in prevalence. In England, the mortality
rate from respiratory diseases is almost double the average for Europe(5).
About the British Pharmaceutical Conference 2008 (BPC)
BPC 2008: Pharmacy in the 21st Century: Adding years to life and life to
years. In 2008, as the NHS marks its 60th anniversary year, BPC will examine
how pharmacy and the pharmaceutical services are helping to add years to life
and life to the year of the UK population. The profession of pharmacy plays
an important role in meeting the healthcare challenges associated with the
UK's ageing population.
How can pharmacists contribute to caring for the population as well as
ensuring quality of life? Increasingly, scientists and practitioners have to
consider the cost implications of this conundrum, and the evidence base for
all interventions is becoming of paramount importance: BPC 2008 will debate
these issues and open up discussion on them.
bpc2008
The main sponsors of BPC 2008 are: Boots The Chemists (Lead Sponsor),
AstraZeneca (Associate Sponsor and BPC-PJ Careers Forum Platinum Sponsor),
Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) (Associate Sponsor) and GSK (BPC-PJ
Careers Forum Platinum Sponsor).
Research released at BPC is published in the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice (IJPP).
References
(1) Bourbeau J, et al. Reduction of hospital utilization in
patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a disease specific
self-management intervention. Arch Intern. Med. 2003; 163, 585 -591.
(2) Lorig KR, et al. Evidence suggesting that a chronic disease
self-management program can improve health status while reducing
hospitalization: a randomized trial. Medical care. 1999; 37, 5-14.
(3) Asthma UK. "Where do we stand? Asthma in the UK today" December
2004. p3 - 10.
(4) Prescribing Review. Drugs used in asthma and COPD. Prescription
Pricing Division. May 2007.
(5) It takes your breath away: The Impact of Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease. CMO Annual Report 2004. Pages 21 and 23.
British Pharmaceutical Conference
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder