Patients with ASCVD experienced a more significant reduction in LDL-C.
Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) experienced a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol when their care was managed by an ambulatory cardiology pharmacist. This is according to research results presented at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2024 Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition, held December 8 to 12 in New Orleans, Louisiana.1
In a retrospective, single-center cohort review, researchers evaluated the reduction in average LDL cholesterol in patients with ASCVD based on whether patients were managed via usual care or by an ambulatory cardiology pharmacist.
A total of 53 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome was average LDL reduction; the key secondary outcomes included the percentage of patients who achieved LDL less than 70 mg/dL when managed by usual care vs an ambulatory cardiology pharmacist and the percentage of patients on proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors or bempedoic acid before and after their initial pharmacy encounter.
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From baseline, average LDL reduction was 13 mg/dL vs 31 mg/dL in the usual care vs pharmacist-managed group. LDL of less than 70 mg/dL was reached in 9% of patients when managed by usual care, compared with 53% of patients when managed by an ambulatory cardiology pharmacist. More patients were managed via PCSK9 inhibitors with ambulatory care pharmacist management compared with usual care (45% vs 0%); no patients were taking bempedoic acid in either group throughout the study period.
“Patients managed by ambulatory care cardiology pharmacists had a statistically significant greater average LDL reduction compared to those managed by usual care,” the researchers concluded.
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