Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud

The aim of the May Measurement Month (MMM) is devoted to better understanding the awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in Spain. Presented here are the data corresponding to 2019 campaign. In 2019, a total of 4433 patients (61.5% males) with a mean age of 54.8 years were included. Of all, 96.0% were Caucasian, and 3294 were recruited in pharmacies. The mean values of systolic blood pressure (BP) were 125.6 and of diastolic 76.7mmHg in the whole population. The most recent previous BP measurement took place more than 1 year before in 27.6% of participants. A total of 1883 were hypertensive (systolic BP 140 mmHg or diastolic BP 90mmHg or taking antihypertensive medication), of whom 77.2%/were aware and 71.1% were onmedication. Of all, 64.9% of those on medication and 46.1% of all hypertensive participants had a BP controlled to <140/90mmHg. These data from MMM 2019 continue to indicate the need for an improvement in the awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Spain.

Introducción: la labor del farmacéutico comunitario en el Servicio de Indicación Farmacéutica (SIF) es muy importante como primera línea de asistencia a la población, aunque no está suficientemente documentada. Objetivos: evaluar la intervención del farmacéutico comunitario en el SIF ante una consulta sobre enfermedad de ojo seco (EOS) con el uso de protocolos. Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo, observacional realizado dentro del programa I-VALOR (enero-junio 2015). Los participantes fueron farmacéuticos voluntarios y pacientes que solicitaron algún remedio para aliviar la EOS. Se utilizó el protocolo del SIF del Foro de Atención Farmacéutica en Farmacia Comunitaria, un consenso para EOS realizado entre sociedades científicas, una hoja de derivación, un informe para el paciente y una hoja de recomendaciones. Resultados: participaron 6.350 pacientes. 62,7 % consultas fueron realizadas por mujeres (24,3 % 46-65 años). El 60 % de los pacientes no presentaba ningún criterio de derivación. Se detectaron 3.887 criterios de derivación en 2.537 pacientes. Se decidió no derivar al 15,4 %, y del resto, 87,3 % aceptó la derivación. La dispensación de algún tratamiento tuvo lugar en el 80 % de los pacientes: 3.157 con tratamiento farmacológico (89,2 % un único medicamento) y 2.403 con tratamiento no farmacológico. El 35 % recibió consejos higiénico-dietéticos y consejo farmacéutico. Se detectaron 25 reacciones adversas a medicamentos (0,4 %). El 70,5 % de todas las consultas realizadas fueron resueltas sin necesidad de derivar al médico. Conclusiones: el programa I-VALOR para EOS ha permitido evaluar la intervención protocolizada del farmacéutico en EOS mediante el registro de las actuaciones farmacéuticas para demostrar la labor desarrollada desde la farmacia comunitaria. / Background: Minor ailment service offered in community pharmacist is a key element in patient care. Thought in Spain the service is not properly documented. Aims: The main objective was to evaluate community pharmacists’ interventions through an agreed minor ailment service for dry eye syndromes (DES). Method: Descriptive study undertaken alongside I-VALOR programme (January-June 2015). Participants were pharmacists from SEFAC who voluntarily decided to do, and patients were those who consulted about DES in community pharmacy. Pharmacists used the Pharmaceutical Care Forum guideline for the Minor Ailment Service and an agreed consensus between pharmaceutical and medical societies. A patient’s form and a referral’s form were designed. Results: There were 6,350 patients involved. 62.7% consultations were made by women (24.3% of 46-65 years old). No referral criteria were detected in 60% of patients. The pharmacist detected 3,887 referral criteria in 2,537 patients. Pharmacists decided not to refer 15.4% of those patients. 87.3% of the patients referred accepted the referral. Treatments were dispensed in 80% of patients: 3,157 pharmacological treatment (89.2% a single medication) and 2,403 non-pharmacological treatment (medical device, food supplement or eye cleaning product). 35% received hygienic-dietary advice and pharmaceutical advice. Twenty-five adverse drug reactions were detected (0.4%). 70.5% of all consultations made were managed with no referral to a general practitioner (GP). Conclusions: I-VALOR programme allowed to evaluate an agreed intervention for DES in community pharmacy through the record of MAS to demonstrate CP contribution to manage minor ailments.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is the single most important contributing risk factor to the global disease burden, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. In Spain, hypertension (HTN) affects around 20% of the adult population and remains the greatest attributable cause of cardiovascular mortality. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a worldwide initiative aimed at increasing awareness of HTN and to improve the lack of screening programmes worldwide. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged 18 and over was carried out in May 2018. Blood pressure measurement, the definition of HTN and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. Anthropometric data and responses to questionnaires on demographic, lifestyle, and environmental factors were obtained as additional information. Screening sites mainly in community pharmacies, universities, primary care centres, HTN units, and cardiovascular departments in hospitals were set up across Spain as part of this initiative. In total, 7646 individuals (63.5% female) were screened during MMM18. After multiple imputation, 40.0% had HTN, of whom 74.4% were aware of their diagnosis and 69.6% were taking antihypertensive medication. Of individuals not receiving antihypertensive medication, 16.9% were hypertensive. Of individuals receiving antihypertensive medication, 36.4% had uncontrolled BP. MMM18 almost doubled the number of participants of MMM17 and was the largest BP screening campaign ever undertaken in Spain, showing that in the absence of systematic screening programmes for HTN, MMM can identify a great number of individuals at risk, increasing their awareness and attracting the interest of the healthcare system in Spain.

May Measurement Month 2017 is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high blood pressure (BP) and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programs worldwide, in which Spain participated actively. The primary objective was to raise awareness and increase control of BP in Spain. An opportunistic crosssectional survey of volunteers aged 18 was set up in May 2017. Following the design of the International Society of Hypertension, data were collected from the 17 autonomous communities in which Spain is divided, mainly in community pharmacies, primary care centres and some hypertension (HT) units, and cardiovascular departments in hospitals. No additional training of volunteers was necessary. A total of 3849 individuals were screened. After multiple imputation, our data showed that 1923 (50.0%) had HT. In those not receiving antihypertensive medication, 17.5% were hypertensives, in individuals receiving antihypertensive medication, 33.9% had uncontrolled BP. May Measurement Month 2017 was the largest BP screening campaign undertaken in Spain. In total, 17.5% of people with HT did not receive medication. One-third of hypertensive participants receiving treatment did not have their BP controlled. These results confirm that an opportunistic screening can identify a significant number of subjects with and untreated and inadequately treated BP.