I’m a few days late to the game here, but I wanted to share my 3 biggest clinical pharmacy changes from 2017. How did I select these? My opinion of course, and I’d love it if you would post one or two things below that you felt were important clinical updates in 2017. Without further deliberation, here’s my top 3 clinical pharmacy game changers from 2017.
- Hypertension guidelines. ACC/AHA got more aggressive as far as blood pressure goals. 10 year risk calculation is now standard practice to help determine how low the goal blood pressure should be set at. There was also a shift toward encouraging more at home blood pressure monitoring. Getting to patients to take their blood pressure at home is sometimes a challenge, but I do think it is a good goal. For more specifics on the updated hypertension goals from 2017, you can check out this short Youtube video I created.
- The next item that was really a game changer for my practice was the Shingrix vaccine. It was recommended by ACIP and the CDC over the current recommendation of Zostavax. Greater benefit/coverage is the primary reason for the change with the downside being that Shingrix may have a few more side effects and the patient now needs two shots.
- It’s always tough to limit yourself to three. If I have to pick, the final most relevant clinical pharmacy change in my setting(s) was the approval for 2 diabetes medications (liraglutide and empagliflozin) to reduce cardiovascular outcomes. Empagliflozin was actually in late 2016, but I think they are both important updates.
So there you have it…what do you feel were the most important updates/guideline changes to be aware of?
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I certainly agree with your first choice and second. I remember reading articles from a CIP 10 years ago that stated shingrix would be out any month. It is a great addition to our vaccination armamentarium. Regarding the changes in labeling affirming the ability of liraglutide empagliflozin to reduce CV outcomes I’m still not completely convinced that’s totally accurate. I would like to see some statistics on numbers needed to treat, with computation of severe side effects and discontinuation rates.