Views: 222 Downloads: 47

Abstract

Uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes are associated with cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular disease, and kidney disease. This study was conducted for the evaluation of hypertensive and diabetic patients at the target-controlled level and to find factors that affect uncontrollable cases. This prospective cross-section clinical trial included 242 Iraqi patients (114 males and 128 females) aged between 21-91 years who suffered from hypertension, diabetes, or both chronic diseases at different pharmacies. Blood pressure and blood glucose levels were checked for all patients as primary care in pharmacies. In the hypertensive patient group, treatment of hypertension as guided played an important factor in controlling blood pressure. The main causes of uncontrolled hypertension were age, higher body mass index (obesity), non-adherence, and treatment not being as guided. As for uncontrolled diabetes, the main factors are adherence, a lack of physical activity, and treatment not being as guided. Furthermore, uncontrolled diabetic and hypertensive patients were not treated as guided. Prevention methods should focus on more lifestyle modifications by spreading awareness and educating Iraqi citizens on the outcomes of their everyday behaviors. This is where community pharmacists come to play a critical role in improving the healthcare system in Iraq and should not be limited to dispensing medications only. Iraqi pharmacists need to be more involved in the evaluation of patients’ treatment by counseling patients on nutrition and activity, following up on medication adherence, and building trust through a connected patient-pharmacist relationship and training in specialty pharmacy programs‎.

Keywords: Community pharmacist, Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, Uncontrolled, Treatment as guided, Iraqi patients

Citation Formats: