Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To describe the economic impact derived from the identification and pharmacotherapeutic management of pharmacological inefficiencies in patients with chronic conditions.
METHODS: This was an observational, descriptive study conducted in 2024 involving a cohort of patients with chronic diseases and polypharmacy enrolled in a value-based pharmacotherapeutic program at an outpatient healthcare institution. Patients were assessed by clinical pharmacists who identified and managed pharmacological inefficiencies to enhance therapeutic safety. A univariate analysis was performed using measures of central tendency, relative frequencies, and cumulative frequencies. Data was processed using R Core Team statistical software, version 4.2 (2022).
RESULTS: A total of 186,354 patients with high-cost chronic conditions were evaluated, with a mean age of 50 years (SD: 25.5), of whom 67.7% were female. Pharmacological inefficiencies were identified in 4,860 patients, 99.8% of which were due to drug duplications. Medications for respiratory conditions were the most frequently involved (71.3%), followed by gastrointestinal drugs (9.4%), enteral nutrition products (6.4%), and dermatological agents (4.8%). Pharmacist interventions resulted in total cost savings of USD 322,937 with an average monthly savings of USD 26,911. The greatest savings were observed in medications for respiratory diseases (USD 194,156), oncology treatments (USD 59,143), gastrointestinal agents (USD 26,472), and immunosuppressants (USD 15,223).
CONCLUSIONS: The identification and management of pharmacological inefficiencies in patients with chronic conditions not only improves pharmacotherapy safety but also significantly contributes to the sustainability of the healthcare system by eliminating unnecessary treatments and promoting the rational use of healthcare resources.