Blood pressure and pharmaceutical care: care makes the difference

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) is known as the main risk factor for cerebrovasculardisease, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney failure, and peripheral vascular disease. If not properlytreated, SAH can result in severe consequences to vital organs such as heart, brain, and kidneys, thusconstituting one of the most severe problems of public health. Accordingly, the use of medication therapyand educational campaigns for changes in lifestyle are considered a necessary aspect for the SAH control.Object: This study aims to determine the change in blood pressure values among users receiving pharmaceuticalcare. Methods: A prospective, controlled study to evaluate the effect of the practice of pharmaceuticalcare on blood pressure control in hypertensive patients, conducted at the Teaching Pharmacyof the Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS). The Dáder method was used. Results: For18 arterial hypertension drug users, the average age was 69.7 ± 8.9 years. One hundred and twenty activeingredients were prescribed to these users, with an average of 6.7 ± 3.8 drugs per prescription. The systolicblood pressures of the studied group at the end of follow-up showed an average reduction of 23.8 mmHg(p<0.002). Conclusion: The pharmaceutical care, carried out systematically by pharmacists trained forthis purpose, can effectively contribute to the control of blood pressure of medication users.