Cholesterol screening in a community pharmacy.

The authors conducted a pilot study to identify patients at risk for developing cardiovascular disease and to see if the community pharmacy is an appropriate site for identifying patients with hypercholesterolemia. Free cholesterol screenings were advertised in newspapers and in the pharmacy. Patients obtained an appointment time for the screening by calling an 800 number and were interviewed for risk factors associated with coronary heart disease. Of the 539 patients enrolled in the study, 78% of patients had abnormal cholesterol levels. Approximately 85% of the abnormal group were contacted again. Eighty-three percent of patients reported lifestyle modifications. Eighty-one percent of patients with elevated cholesterol levels requested diet information, and 23% accepted the offer to rescreen. We conclude that the community pharmacy is an easily accessible, well accepted, and effective site for cholesterol screenings; pharmacist interventions may help patients reduce their risk of coronary heart disease; and the pharmacy may benefit financially from an increase in dispensing lipid-lowering medications.