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Cholesterol patients who use mail-order pharmacies have better treatment outcomes

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

For individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results, filling their prescription through a mail-order pharmacy may lead to better treatment results, suggests a new study from Kaiser Permanente researchers.

The team found that 85 percent of patients who filled a prescription for cholesterol-lowering medications met their goals for bringing their lipids down, compared to 74 percent who used the foundation's local brick-and-mortar pharmacy.

The findings add to evidence suggesting that mail-order pharmacies may provide a high level of service. Previous investigations have shown patients who use this option to fill their prescriptions are more likely to take their medications as instructed.

"While the findings of this study should be confirmed in a randomized controlled trial, they provide new evidence that mail-order pharmacy use may be associated with improved care and outcomes for patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease," said Julie Schmittdiel, who led the investigation.

Though the findings provide no explanation for the phenomenon, the researchers pointed out that patients who fill their prescription online through the Kaiser Permanente system have access to a host of tools that may support their treatment.