Effect of Clinical Pharmacist Intervention on Hemoglobin A1C Reduction in Veteran Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in a Rural Setting

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), if left uncontrolled, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Patients in rural areas may not have access to adequate resources to successfully treat diabetes. Clinical pharmacists may be utilized to bridge this gap.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a clinical pharmacist on glycemic control in veterans with T2DM enrolled in a rural, outpatient clinic.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed on veterans with T2DM referred to the pharmacist-managed therapeutic monitoring clinic at a community-based outpatient clinic located in rural Jackson, TN. Patients served as their own controls. Patients with hemoglobin A_1C (A1C) ≥8% were included. The primary outcome was A1C change from baseline in patients managed by the clinical pharmacist. Secondary end points included blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.

Results: Of 111 veterans identified as having a A1C ≥8% in the pharmacist-managed clinic, 86 met inclusion criteria. At baseline, mean ± SD A1C was 10.5% ± 2.0% (range = 8.7%-16.2%). By the end of the intervention period, mean A1C had decreased by 2.8 percentage points to 7.7% ± 1.4% (P < 0.001). At the end of the intervention, 34% (n = 29) had a A1C of <7%, 40% (n = 34) between 7% and 7.9%, and only 6% (n = 5) >10% (P < 0.001). Improvements in diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.001), total cholesterol (P = 0.001), and triglyceride levels (P = 0.036) were also statistically significant when baseline and intervention period values were compared.

Conclusion: Pharmacist interventions at a rural, outpatient clinic had a statistically significant impact on A1C reduction in veterans with T2DM.