A cluster randomized trial to evaluate physician/pharmacist collaboration to improve blood pressure control

Abstract

This was a prospective, cluster randomized controlledtrial in patients with uncontrolled hypertensionaged 21 to 85 years (mean, 61 years).Pharmacists made recommendations to physiciansfor patients in the intervention clinics (n=101)but not patients in the control clinics (n=78). Themean adjusted difference in systolic blood pressure(BP) between the control and interventiongroups was 8.7 mm Hg (95% confidence interval[CI], 4.4-12.9), while the difference in diastolicBP was 5.4 mm Hg (CI, 2.8-8.0) at 9 months.The 24-hour BP levels showed similar effects,with a mean systolic BP level that was 8.8 mmHg lower (CI, 5.0-12.6) and a mean diastolic BPlevel that was 4.6 mm Hg (CI, 2.4-6.8) lowerin the intervention group. BP was controlled in89.1% of patients in the intervention group and52.9% in the control group (adjusted odds ratio,8.9; CI, 3.8-20.7; P