The Critical Role of Community Pharmacists in Blood Pressure Monitoring

Magdalena Waszyk-Nowaczyk; Magdalena Jasińska-Stroschein; Justyna Dymek; Mariola Drozd; Olga Sierpniowska; Agnieszka Stankiewicz; Artur Jędra; Maciej Banach; Marek Gierlotka; Piotr Jankowski; Adam Windak; Tadeusz Osadnik; Tomasz Tomasik; Jacek Wolf; Weronika Guzenda; Łukasz Stryczyński; Jacek Jóźwiak

doi:10.12659/MSM.944657

15 August 2024 : Review article

The Critical Role of Community Pharmacists in Blood Pressure Monitoring

Magdalena Waszyk-Nowaczyk

^1ADEF*, Magdalena Jasińska-Stroschein

^2ABEF, Justyna Dymek

^3AEF, Mariola Drozd

^4AD, Olga Sierpniowska

^5AEF, Agnieszka Stankiewicz^6F, Artur Jędra^7AF, Maciej Banach^8DE, Marek Gierlotka

^9D, Piotr Jankowski

^10D, Adam Windak

^11D, Tadeusz Osadnik

^12D, Tomasz Tomasik

^11D, Jacek Wolf

^13D, Weronika Guzenda

^1E, Łukasz Stryczyński

^14DE, Jacek Jóźwiak

^15DE

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944657

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944657

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Introduction BP Measurements Outside the Doctor’s Office General Principles and Techniques of BP Measurements Community Pharmacy BP Measurement Screening for Patients with Undiagnosed HTN Management of Treated Hypertensive Patients in Community Pharmacy Future Directions Conclusions References

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Table 1 Take-home messages.

Elevated BP is the biggest single contributing risk factor for global mortality

Regular BP monitoring is crucial for everyone, including individuals without diagnosed HTN and those already undergoing anti-hypertensive treatment

Screening for patients with undiagnosed HTN in community pharmacy would increase the number of adult participants who are regularly getting their BP monitored

CPBP readings can be also useful for treated hypertensive patients; it is crucial to use a validated device and appropriate cuff size and to provide appropriate conditions

Management of hypertensive patient could include pharmacist-led education about healthy lifestyle habits, analysis of medications for potential impacts on BP, and ensuring adherence to therapeutic targets set by physicians

When the values are above the normal range (≥140/90 mmHg), the patient should be made aware of risks associated with not initiating treatment or poorly controlled BP

If the patient’s BP reaches at least the level of 180 mmHg (SBP) and/or 120 mmHg (DBP), the pharmacist can contact the patient’s family doctor or a specialist to arrange an urgent medical consultation, or, depending on the patient’s condition, call the Emergency Medical Team

BP readings below 90/60 mmHg require immediate attention, especially if accompanied by symptoms like weakness or dizziness

After the physician diagnoses the HTN and initiates tailored intervention, follow-up appointment with pharmacists could ensure continued education on medication usage and proper BP self-monitoring

BP – blood pressure; CPBP – community pharmacy blood pressure; DBP – diastolic blood pressure; HTN – hypertension; SBP – systolic blood pressure.

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The Critical Role of Community Pharmacists in Blood Pressure Monitoring

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