Evaluation of a cardiovascular disease opportunistic risk assessment pilot ('Heart MOT' service) in community pharmacies

Background Cardiovascular risk-based screening is proposed as a key intervention to reduce premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the UK and internationally This study evaluated a targeted cardiovascular (CVD) assessment pilot in 23 community pharmacies in Birmingham, UK Methods The CVD risk assessment service used near-patient testing and the Framingham risk equations administered by pharmacists to screen clients aged 40-70 without known CVD Outcomes assessed included volume of activity, uptake by deprivation and ethnicity and onwards referral Results Complete data were available for 1130 of 1141 clients, 679 (60%) male, 218(19%) smokers and 124(11%) had a family history of CVD Overall, 792 (70%) of clients were referred to their general practice 201 (18%) at CVD risk of 20% or more, remainder with individual risk factor(s) Greater representation from Black (7 4%) and Asian (24 8%) communities and from average and less deprived quintiles than the affluent and most deprived was observed Conclusions Community pharmacies can provide a CVD risk assessment service in a UK urban setting that can attract males and provide access for deprived communities and Black and Asian communities A pharmacy service can support GP practices in identifying and managing the workload of around 30% of clients