Impact of pharmacy counseling on compliance and effectiveness of combination lipid-lowering therapy in patients undergoing coronary artery revascularization: A randomized, controlled trial

This randomized, controlled trial evaluated the impact of personalized foll owup on compliance rates in high-risk patients receiving combination lipid- lowering therapy over 2 years. A random sample of 30 patients 7-30 days aft er cardiac surgery had baseline fasting low-density lipoprotein levels high er than 130 mg/dl. All patients received lovastatin 20 mg/day and colestipo l. 5 g twice/day. Weekly telephone contact was made with each patient for 1 2 weeks. Short- and long-term compliance was assessed by pill and packet co unts and refill records. Compliance and lipid profile results were signific antly better in the intervention group (p<0.05) up to 2 years after the sta rt of therapy than in the control group for all parameters except high-dens ity lipoprotein. However, this effect was not apparent during the first 12 weeks of therapy. Short-term telephone follow-up favorably affected complia nce and lipid profile results up to 2 years after start of therapy.