Heart HealthTelepharmacy Cuts Blood Pressure and Boosts Medication Adherence in Chronic Disease Patients
A Cochrane systematic review analyzed 21 randomized controlled trials involving 5,440 patients with non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. Telepharmacy — pharmacist-led care delivered by phone, video, or app — was compared to usual care. Results showed low-certainty evidence that telepharmacy may modestly improve medication adherence and reduce systolic blood pressure by nearly 7 mmHg. Moderate-certainty evidence found little to no effect on HbA1c in diabetic patients. Patient satisfaction data were inconclusive, and outcomes like mortality and quality of life showed no consistent benefit. The authors conclude telepharmacy is promising but call for larger, longer trials with standardized outcome measures before widespread adoption.
