Preventive and corrective treatment of drug-induced calcium deficiency: an analysis in a community pharmacy setting

摘要

BackgroundDrug-nutrient interactions are not always valued in clinical practice.These interactions may result in drug-induced nutrient deficiencyand therefore preventive and corrective treatments may be necessary.Pharmacy Technicians play an important role in identifying patientsat risk. Objectives: To determine and characterise the values ofthe bone mineral density of patients using quantitative ultrasonicmeasurements of the calcaneus; to analyse the use of preventive orcorrective treatment of drug-induced nutritional deficiencies andtheir consequences.MethodsObservational analytic cross-sectional study performed in a CommunityPharmacy in Porto with 103 individuals (82.5 % female) over theage of 40. Data collection was obtained through a structured questionnaire.Bone mineral density of the participants was quantitativelyassessed by ultrasound of the calcaneus. Data were analysed usingSPSS.ResultsBone mineral density values were significantly lower in women(0.405 ± 1.07 g/cm3 vs. 0.510 ± 0.142 g/cm3). There was also a morepronounced decrease with age. Sixty-six per cent of the patientswere being medicated with at least one drug that could induce calciumdeficiency. Of the patients at risk, only 24.5 % take any sort oforal supplementation. About 30%of patients at risk were neverscreened or treated for osteoporosis.ConclusionsThe quantitative assessment of bone mineral density by ultrasoundof the calcaneus in the pharmacy, allows the tracking of high-risk individuals.Pharmacy Technicians and other health professionals mustprovide a greater awareness of drug-induced nutritional deficienciesand adopt measures to prevent and avoid negative effects on patienthealth.