A Web-Based Cardiovascular Risk Assessment via Pharmacists: A Feasibility and Validation Study

Background: Involving pharmacists in clinical care could improve the identification of subjects at risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Data on web-based approach involving pharmacists for CV disease risk assessment are very limited. Methods: We first developed a web-based CV risk assessment tool to be used by pharmacists that includes demographic, lifestyle, biological and anthropometric information. Biological and anthropometric data were collected in independent laboratories. We then assessed the feasibility and validity of this approach by inviting adults who previously (within 6 months) participated in a Swiss standardized population-based study to fill out the web-based platform. Attrition rates and correlations were used to assess the feasibility and validity, respectively. Proportions were expressed as percentages and continuous variables were expressed as means ± standard deviations (SD). Main Outcomes Measure: Proportions of participants who 1) agreed to participate; 2) filled out the questionnaire and had their biological and anthropometric measures taken; 3) only filled out the questionnaire; and 4) only had their biological and anthropometric measures taken. Correlations were used to compare continuous variables (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total plasma cholesterol, HDL plasma cholesterol, LDL plasma cholesterol, triglycerides) collected via both studies. Results: Overall, 218 (53.2% women) adults of the population-based study were eligible and were contacted to participate, from April to November 2013. Of these, 140 (64.2%) agreed to participate. The majority (67/140, 47.8%) both filled out the questionnaire and had their biological/anthropometric measures taken, whereas only 2.8% and 7.1% only filled out the questionnaire or only had their biological measures taken, respectively. Except for systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and triglycerides, the correlations between the measures obtained in the population-based study and the web-based approach were generally greater than 0.80, suggesting very good correlations. Conclusions: A web-based CV risk assessment via pharmacists is a feasible and valid approach. This web-based approach should be adapted to lower attrition, and its impact on CV risk factors should be further tested.