Effects of pharmacist intervention on polypharmacy in patients with type 2 diabetes in Japan

Abstract Objective Investigation of polypharmacy in patients with type 2 diabetes revealed that the medications being administered according to the patient’s symptoms and complaints strongly contributed to polypharmacy. We explored the effects of clinical ward pharmacy service, which evaluated the need for symptomatic treatment, therefore minimizing polypharmacy by reducing inappropriate medications. Results The number of drugs [hospitalization vs. discharge: 9 (1-17) vs. 7 (1-16), P < 0.001] and rate of PP (hospitalization vs. discharge: 75.4% vs. 61.1%, P < 0.001) were significantly lower at discharge. Since hospital admission, the number of drugs increased (n = 6, 11%), remained unchanged (n = 15,28%), decreased by 1 drug (n = 4,8%), decreased by 2 drugs (n = 3,6%), and decreased by more than 2 drugs (n = 25,5%). Daily drug costs were significantly reduced (hospitalization vs. discharge: ＄8.3 vs. ＄6.1, P < 0.001).