Effect of pharmaceutical care on optimum colestipol treatment in elderly hypercholesterolemic veterans.
We conducted a prospective trial to determine whether a formal, integrated pharmaceutical care plan can enhance patient acceptance and compliance with colestipol therapy and improve outcomes. Forty patients with hypercholesterolemia were equally divided and assigned to either a usual care or pharmaceutical care group. In the pharmaceutical care group compared with the usual care group, after 52 weeks, colestipol therapy resulted in a greater reduction in total cholesterol (12.5% vs 7.3%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; 16% vs 9.4%), and LDL-C:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (24.4% vs 12.2%, p < 0.05). The percentage of patients who achieved their LDL-C goal at week 52 was much greater in the pharmaceutical care group (29.4%) than in the usual care group (5.0%, p < 0.05). Co-management by a physician and a pharmacist of hypercholesterolemic veterans treated with colestipol can enhance patient acceptance of the drug, LDL-C reduction, and achievement of therapeutic goals.
Konzem
S L
SL
Pharmacy Service, Long Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Irvine, California 90822, USA.
Gray
D R
DR
Kashyap
M L
ML
D000368:Aged; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003084:Colestipol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010595:Pharmacists; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D003084:Colestipol