To keep you better informed about the biggest trends and developments affecting medication management, medication adherence, and clinical pharmacy services, here are 10 of the most significant news reports published in February. Highlights include stories on medication reconciliation for mental health, HEDIS® measures, deprescribing proton pump inhibitors, and risky polypharmacy for patients prescribed opioids.
1. American Heart Month: A Pharmacist's Role in Polypharmacy Management of Congestive Heart Failure Patients
Authors of a column in Pharmacy Times note that the complexity of congestive heart failure management provides opportunities for pharmacists to take on significant roles in these patients' lives through medication therapy management, coordinated transition of care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and patient education.
2. Reconciling Medications in Mental Health Assessments Protects Patients
Research shows that medication reconciliation plays a pivotal role in helping reduce the risk of medication errors for patients with a mental illness who can have a complex medication regimen.
3. American Job Losses Means 57.5M Fewer Prescriptions Filled, Study Says
A study reveals a direct correlation between loss of employment and reduction in medication adherence due to the subsequent loss of insurance and income.
4. How NCQA Created Measures on Social Determinants of Health Screenings
Newly proposed HEDIS measures look to measure social determinants of health screenings.
5. Study Identifies Factors Impacting Adherence to Oral Medications for Metastatic Breast Cancer
A study reveals that multiple factors influence the ability of people with metastatic breast cancer to adhere to their prescribed regimen of oral anticancer medication, including side effects, medication costs, patients' knowledge about the medication, and care team communication.
6. Medication Adherence Issues Affect CVD Management
Multiple challenges, including high costs and cultural barriers, are creating medication adherence risks for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
7. AGA: Consider De-Prescribing PPIs in Patients With 'Murky' Indications
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has recommended that physicians consider deprescribing proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for any patient on chronic PPIs without a clear indication. AGA also recommended step-down dosing for those on twice-daily treatment.
8. Estimated 2.6M Americans Prescribed Opioids Also on Various Other Sedatives
Research reveals that as many as 2.6 million Americans — equivalent to 1% of all U.S. adults —prescribed opioids are also taking various other sedatives. Such polypharmacy could be dangerous, warn researchers.
9. Healthy Lifestyle, Medication Adherence Tied to Lower Mortality in Hypertension
Adherence to antihypertensive medications, coupled with a healthy lifestyle, was associated with decreased risk for mortality in hypertension patients, according to a study.
10. Behavioral Therapy Can Help Reduce Polypharmacy in Borderline Personality Disorder, Study Finds
The results of a retrospective study showed that dialectical-behavioral therapy skills training can help mitigate polypharmacy in those with borderline personality disorder.
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