TY - JOUR
AU - X. Li
AU - X. Ma
AU - W. Qin
AU - C. Shi
AU - L. Liu
AU - C. Wang
A1 - 
AB - PURPOSE: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and suboptimal medication management contributes to exacerbations and preventable healthcare utilization. Pharmacist-led integrated care has the potential to improve medication use and clinical outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of pharmacist-led interventions in COPD. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted and reported in accordance with PRISMA 2020. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception until June 23, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of pharmaceutical care on clinical outcomes in COPD patients were included. A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled relative risks (RRs) or mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. RESULTS: A total of 11 randomized controlled trials involving 2313 participants were included. Pharmacist-led interventions were associated with a lower risk of exacerbation-related hospital admissions (RR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.55). Improvements in medication adherence and higher smoking cessation rates were also observed. Improvements in health-related quality of life were reported; however, substantial heterogeneity was present. In contrast, effects on COPD Assessment Test scores and objective disease measures, including lung function, were non-significant. Overall study quality was variable, with many trials being small and at high risk of bias. CONCLUSION: Pharmacist-led interventions in COPD may improve selected medication-related and patient-centered outcomes; however, the available evidence is heterogeneous and limited by study quality and inconsistent effects across outcomes. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, and well-designed, adequately powered trials with standardized outcomes are needed before robust conclusions regarding clinical effectiveness can be drawn.
AD - China-Japan Friendship Hospital (Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.; Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.; Fuwai Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.; Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Beijing, People's Republic of China.; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
AN - 42021780
BT - Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis
C5 - Education & Workforce
DO - 10.2147/copd.S589904
DP - NLM
ET - 20260416
JF - Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis
LA - eng
N2 - PURPOSE: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and suboptimal medication management contributes to exacerbations and preventable healthcare utilization. Pharmacist-led integrated care has the potential to improve medication use and clinical outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of pharmacist-led interventions in COPD. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted and reported in accordance with PRISMA 2020. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception until June 23, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of pharmaceutical care on clinical outcomes in COPD patients were included. A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled relative risks (RRs) or mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. RESULTS: A total of 11 randomized controlled trials involving 2313 participants were included. Pharmacist-led interventions were associated with a lower risk of exacerbation-related hospital admissions (RR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33-0.55). Improvements in medication adherence and higher smoking cessation rates were also observed. Improvements in health-related quality of life were reported; however, substantial heterogeneity was present. In contrast, effects on COPD Assessment Test scores and objective disease measures, including lung function, were non-significant. Overall study quality was variable, with many trials being small and at high risk of bias. CONCLUSION: Pharmacist-led interventions in COPD may improve selected medication-related and patient-centered outcomes; however, the available evidence is heterogeneous and limited by study quality and inconsistent effects across outcomes. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, and well-designed, adequately powered trials with standardized outcomes are needed before robust conclusions regarding clinical effectiveness can be drawn.
PY - 2026
SN - 1176-9106 (Print); 1176-9106
SP - 589904
ST - Pharmacist-Led Integrated Management for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
T1 - Pharmacist-Led Integrated Management for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
T2 - Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis
TI - Pharmacist-Led Integrated Management for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
U1 - Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.2147/copd.S589904
VL - 21
VO - 1176-9106 (Print); 1176-9106
Y1 - 2026
ER -