Role of the community pharmacist in the early detection of atrial fibrillation and in adherence to new treatments

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia associated with stroke and other cardiovascular complications. The community pharmacy (CP) constitutes a strategic setting for early detection and medication therapy management. This article describes a case detected in a community pharmacy through opportunistic screening, the application of the Axonictus service, and subsequent coordination with primary care and the hospital cardiology department. After blood pressure measurement in a 74-year-old female patient reporting symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, and malaise, an irregular pulse was identified, and AF was subsequently confirmed. The pharmaceutical intervention enabled preferential referral, therapeutic adjustment, and the implementation of the New Medicine Service (NMS), achieving 100% medication adherence. This case demonstrates the utility of the community pharmacy in detecting suspected AF, activating the healthcare referral pathway, and providing pharmacotherapeutic support following the initiation of oral anticoagulation.