Pharmacists Can Effectively Identify Atrial Fibrillation, Reduce CVD Risk

Community pharmacists play a role as an access point for atrial fibrillation (AFib) identification, cardiovascular risk management, and social determinants of health (SDOH), according to a JAPhA study.¹

“The frequent interactions and familiarity people have with pharmacists build trust, positioning them as valuable assets in health care. People with complex health needs, including Medicaid beneficiaries who are disproportionately affected by chronic disease, can particularly benefit from pharmacist interventions,” wrote the Center for Health Care Strategies.² “Despite this, the role of pharmacists remains underutilized in the health care system, especially in terms of improving health outcomes and reducing costs for people with complex health needs.”

The Project IMPACT research, which spanned 40 community pharmacies across 20 states, successfully utilized point-of-care electrocardiogram technology to identify heart rhythm abnormalities at nearly 3 times the rate found in the general population. By screening 2105 participants, pharmacists detected AFib in 4.7% of the cohort, a significant finding when compared with the 1.5% prevalence typically expected in the US.¹

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The study identified that the strongest predictors for positive AFib results were male gender, being 70 years or older, and having a high-risk score on a validated stroke risk assessment. These results underscore the effectiveness of the Cardiovascular Health+ model, which integrated SDOH screenings, stroke risk assessments, and medication therapy management into a unified clinical service.

This clinical success is mirrored by a recent systematic review of 17 international studies, which found that pharmacist-led interventions for patients with AFib achieved a 35% reduction in strokes and a 24% reduction in major bleeding events. The review also highlighted that pharmacists significantly increased appropriate prescription rates, demonstrating their ability to close the gap in guideline-directed therapy.³

Despite this potential, global challenges remain, as a nationwide study in Malaysia revealed that, although community pharmacists are highly active in patient counseling, they often feel restricted by a lack of access to patient medical records and insufficient educational materials for cardiovascular health. Furthermore, the research indicated that only 16.7% of those pharmacists had completed specific training in dyslipidemia, though nearly 90% expressed an interest in further education to improve their clinical practice.⁴

Addressing these barriers requires a shift in how pharmacies view their role in the broader health care ecosystem. Because roughly 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a pharmacy, these locations represent access squared, providing a unique opportunity to identify root causes of poor health that other providers might miss.^2,5,6

For instance, the use of the SDOHRx tool in Project IMPACT allowed pharmacists to identify that 13% of patients had unmet medication-related social needs, which were often addressed through direct pharmacy-led interventions or referrals to local resources.¹

Beyond clinical data, these interactions help build a bridge between pharmacy, policy reform, and public health by identifying individuals struggling with transportation, housing, or economic anxiety.⁵

The integration of innovative technology helps streamline these administrative tasks, allowing pharmacists to move “beyond the fill” and spend more time on high-value clinical encounters. Innovative models like collaborative practice agreements further empower pharmacists to prescribe or modify medications, a practice that has been shown to resolve up to 79% of drug therapy problems in complex patients.^2,6

However, sustainability remains the primary hurdle for long-term implementation of these services. Project IMPACT pharmacists identified fair compensation as the single largest barrier to continuing AFib screening programs once research funding concluded.¹

To ensure that pharmacists can continue to function as life-saving access points, the profession must advocate for payment structures that recognize the clinical and economic value of preventative cardiovascular screenings and SDOH management.^1,5

“It is clear that pharmacists add value in delivering these services when they are compensated fairly for doing so,” concluded the authors of the current study.¹ “Based on the success of this practice implementation throughout the entirety of 2 MAC jurisdictions in the US, community pharmacies present a solution for scaling significant health care system changes that support delivery of accessible patient care services that reduce cardiovascular risk.”

READ MORE: Cardiology Resource Center

REFERENCES

1. Bluml BM, Little J, Bennett M, et al. Project IMPACT Cardiovascular Health+: Pharmacy services for better cardiovascular health. JAPhA. June 8, 2026:103467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2026.103467

2. Fitzgerald H. The role of pharmacists in innovative care models for adults with complex health needs. Center for Health Care Strategies. May 2025. Accessed June 29, 2026. https://www.chcs.org/resource/the-role-of-pharmacists-in-innovative-care-models-for-adults-with-complex-health-needs-evidence-roundup/

3. Tonin FS, Tsuyuki RT, Fernandez-Llimos F, et al. The role of pharmacists in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2025 Aug 31;158(6):351-367. doi: 10.1177/17151635251365148.

4. Ismail FF, Md Redzuan A, Chong WW, et al. Role of community pharmacists in cardiovascular diseases-related health promotion and dyslipidemia management in Malaysia: a nationwide cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2023 Sep 28;18(9):e0290883. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290883.

5. Richards W. Social determinants of health offer pharmacists the chance to deeply connect with patients and boost their bottom lines. NCPA. February 2024. Accessed June 29, 2026. https://ncpa.org/sites/default/files/2024-01/APFEB24_HealtEquity.pdf

6. The impact of community pharmacists on patients. Outcomes. December 16, 2025. Accessed June 29, 2026. https://www.outcomes.com/blog/pharmacy/community-pharmacists