Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice

Hypertension is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as persistently raised high blood pressure (BP) and affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide. Hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular (CV) and related diseases, including myocardial infarction, strokes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Globally, around one-half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease are attributable to hypertension.
However, treatment and control rates for hypertension are low, due to a) low patients’ adherence to non-pharmacological as well as to pharmacological treatments, b) therapeutic/physician inertia and c) deficiencies of healthcare systems in their approach to chronic diseases.

One factor that may affect hypertension treatment rates is the density of the healthcare workforce—specifically physicians and nurses—within a country. However, community pharmacists (CPs) have a strategic position in primary care, to early screen and manage hypertension in adults. More specifically, CPs can offer disease state education and resources, patient counselling, BP measurement/monitoring and/or adherence monitoring, addressing any barriers to self-care. CPs should have adequate knowledge to help increase hypertension detection rates and management.

According to WHO¹, “an increase in the number of patients effectively treated for hypertension to levels observed in high-performing countries could prevent 76 million deaths, 120 million strokes, 79 million heart attacks, and 17 million cases of heart failure between now and 2050”. Moreover, WHO states that “Every hour, more than 1,000 people die from strokes and heart attacks. Most of these deaths are caused by high blood pressure, and most could have been prevented”. High blood pressure (BP) affects many people aged 60 years and above, making blood pressure screening/management one of the most regular visits of individuals/patients to primary healthcare settings. Currently, BP measurement/care is conducted mainly by physicians and nurses in general practice environment.

However, pharmacists - who are the most accessible healthcare professionals in primary healthcare setting – have an important role in BP screening/measurement. Apart from the opportunistic BP measurements, pharmacists have the capacity to participate in BP screening/management services, to identify undiagnosed hypertension in their community, and thus prevent BP development which could lead to established CV diseases. Latest initiatives show that CPs are keen to advance both their community pharmacies and their clinical roles and models of primary care. Consequently, considering CPs’ potential to extend their engagement in hypertension-related patient care is crucial.

According to WHO² “The prevention and control of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, requires political will on the part of governments and policymakers, along with the efforts of health workers, the academic research community, civil society, the private sector, families, and individuals. Everyone has a role to play”.

In this article collection the extended clinical role of the CPs or other healthcare professionals in primary care regarding hypertension screening and management will be explored. CPs have a unique spot in the healthcare environment, since they collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide patient-centred care.

We invite submissions of various article types, including research papers, reviews, and case studies, which contribute to our understanding of the essential role which healthcare professionals within the healthcare team have in hypertension screening and management.

Submissions are welcome on the following topics:

• Pharmacists’ and/or physicians’ led hypertension services
• Hypertension screening and management interventions
• Pharmacists and calibration of BP devices
• Patient-Centred Care: Explore various approaches that healthcare professionals employ in primary care to tailor hypertension screening and/or management strategies to individuals’ needs and preferences
• Pharmacotherapy: Discuss the latest advancements in hypertension medications
• Education and Counselling: Identify how primary healthcare professionals educate patients and caregivers about hypertension, recognise potential side effects, and detect adherence problems, and educate patients and caregivers for self-care and self-management of hypertension.

¹: First WHO report details devastating impact of hypertension and ways to stop it

https://www.who.int/news/item/19-09-2023-first-who-report-details-devastating-impact-of-hypertension-and-ways-to-stop-it

²: WHO EMRO | High blood pressure: everyone has a role | World Health Day 2013 | World Health Days

https://www.emro.who.int/media/world-health-day/partners-factsheet-2013.html

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Dr. Aliki Peletidi is the Pharmacy Programme course director at the University of Nicosia. She is also an Assistant Professor, and her specialty is Clinical Pharmacy Practice. Aliki is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and SEDA. Her research focuses on pharmacy-led clinical pharmacy services, academic pharmacy, and medicines optimization. She holds a PhD and an MPharm degree, from Kingston University London.

Dr Christos Petrou, is the Head of the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Nicosia. He is also an Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy. Christos holds a BPharm (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), an MSc in “Pharmacochemisty, Natural Products, Design, Synthesis and Analysis of Bioactive Compounds”, and a PhD (with Distinction) from the Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Greece.

Mr. Michael Petrides is an Associate Lecturer at the Pharmacy Programme at the University of Nicosia. His research interests are focused on Compounding Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice, Public Health and Pharmacoepidemiology. He received a BPharm from the Department of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Additionally, he earned his MSc in Pharmaceutical Technology, Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences from the same university. Currently, he is a Ph.D. Candidate in Pharmacoepidemiology at the Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace.

 

Dr. Peletidi, Dr. Petrou and Mr. Petrides all declare no conflict of interest.

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