title: Pharmaceutical care program for elderly patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a pilot pharmaceutical care program developed for elderly patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonrandomized single intervention pre/posttest blood pressure study in a community pharmacy in Aracaju, Brazil. This study enrolled elderly patients diagnosed with essential hypertension and uncontrolled blood pressure. Monthly visits were scheduled during a 10-month period. Pharmaceutical interventions were focused on health education and monitoring of drug-related problems. Primary outcomes included target blood pressure control, reduction in blood pressure, pulse pressure, medication adherence, and reduction of anthropometric indices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  35 of 51 patients completed the study. After 10 months of intervention, 57.2% of elderly patients achieved blood pressure control (P = 0.000) and the mean reduction was 26.6 mm Hg (P < 0.0001) for systolic blood pressure, 10.4 mm Hg (P < 0.0001) for diastolic blood pressure, and 15.7 mm Hg (P < 0.0001) for pulse pressure. Medication adherence also improved (P = 0.0000); however, anthropometric indices remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pharmaceutical care program improved outcomes by reducing and controlling blood pressure and improving medication adherence among elderly patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
authors: College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil.
authors: Patricia M
authors: PM
authors: Aguiar
authors: Blicie J
authors: BJ
authors: Balisa-Rocha
authors: Giselle C
authors: GC
authors: Brito
authors: Divaldo P
authors: DP
authors: Lyra
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D010594:Pharmacies; D010865:Pilot Projects