Role of the Pharmacist

The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors continues to rise, with considerable emphasis on the upward trends in obesity and diabetes mellitus, which have increased by 46% and 60%, respectively, in the past 10 years. The alarming increase in the prevalence of diabetes and obesity has resulted in the development of new and innovative drug therapies to assist in managing cardiometabolic risk factors. This advent creates many opportunities for pharmacists to evaluate patients' drug regimens and influence lifestyle modification. Drug therapy management programs allow pharmacists to take active roles in assessing drug regimens and to intervene as appropriate. No matter what their practice environment, pharmacists have numerous opportunities to recognize and recommend treatment for cardiometabolic risk factors and to increase patient compliance by educating patients and health care practitioners.