Abstract
Background: Involving pharmacists in clinical care could improve the identification of subjects at risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Data on web-based approach involving pharmacists for CV disease risk assessment are very limited. Methods: We first developed a web-based CV risk assessment tool to be used by pharmacists that includes demographic, lifestyle, biological and anthropometric information. Biological and anthropometric data were collected in independent laboratories. We then assessed the feasibility and validity of this approach by inviting adults who previously (within 6 months) participated in a Swiss standardized population-based study to fill out the web-based platform. Attrition rates and correlations were used to assess the feasibility and validity, respectively. Proportions were expressed as percentages and continuous variables were expressed as means ± standard deviations (SD). Main Outcomes Measure: Proportions of participants who 1) agreed to participate; 2) filled out the questionnaire and had their biological and anthropometric measures taken; 3) only filled out the questionnaire; and 4) only had their biological and anthropometric measures taken. Correlations were used to compare continuous variables (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total plasma cholesterol, HDL plasma cholesterol, LDL plasma cholesterol, triglycerides) collected via both studies. Results: Overall, 218 (53.2% women) adults of the population-based study were eligible and were contacted to participate, from April to November 2013. Of these, 140 (64.2%) agreed to participate. The majority (67/140, 47.8%) both filled out the questionnaire and had their biological/anthropometric measures taken, whereas only 2.8% and 7.1% only filled out the questionnaire or only had their biological measures taken, respectively. Except for systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and triglycerides, the correlations between the measures obtained in the population-based study and the web-based approach were generally greater than 0.80, suggesting very good correlations. Conclusions: A web-based CV risk assessment via pharmacists is a feasible and valid approach. This web-based approach should be adapted to lower attrition, and its impact on CV risk factors should be further tested.
Highlights
Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide [1]
We first developed a web-based platform (Health Audit) and assessed its validity using data from the population-based Bus Santé study. We suggest that this web-based CV risk assessment could be used by pharmacists, including at the counter, to contribute—in close collaboration with primary-care physicians—to better identifying subjects at risk for CV disease and to mitigating their risk by reducing risks through appropriate interventions
We developed a web-based online questionnaire (Health Audit http://www.net-care.ch/) that aims to help individuals manage their own health through a CV risk factor evaluation by pharmacists
Summary
Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide [1] Both behavioral (e.g., unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, psychological stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and physiological (e.g., high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia) factors are associated with CV disease [2]-[4]. Most of these factors are modifiable, and previous studies have highlighted the opportunity to act on these risk factors in order to reduce the likelihood of CV disease. Data on web-based approach involving pharmacists for CV disease risk assessment are very limited. Correlations were used to compare continuous variables (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total plasma cholesterol, HDL plasma cholesterol, LDL plasma cholesterol, triglycerides) col-
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