Background: Meta-analysis of small trials suggests that pharmacist-led collaborative review and revision of medical treatment may improve outcomes in heart failure.

Methods and Results: We studied patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction in a cluster-randomised controlled, event driven, trial in primary care in Scotland.  We allocated 87 practices (1090 patients) to pharmacist intervention and 87 practices (1074 patients) to usual care.  The intervention was delivered by non-specialist pharmacists working with family doctors to optimise medical treatment.  The primary outcome was a composite of death or hospital admission for worsening heart failure.  The median follow-up was 4.7 years.  At baseline, 86% of patients in both groups were treated with an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker.  In patients not receiving one or other of these medications, or receiving less than the recommended dose, treatment was started, or the dose increased, in 33.1% of patients in the intervention group and in 18.5% of the usual care group (odds ratio (OR) 2.26; 95% CI, 1.64 to 3.10; P less than 0.001).  At baseline, 62% of each group were treated with a beta-blocker and the proportions starting or having an increase in the dose were 17.9% in the intervention group and 11.1% in the usual care group (OR 1.76; 95% CI, 1.31 to 2.35; P less than 0.001).  The primary outcome occurred in 35.8% of patients in the intervention group and 35.4% in the usual care group (hazard ratio 0.97; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.14; P = 0.72).  There was no difference in any secondary outcome.

Conclusions: A low-intensity, pharmacist-led collaborative intervention in primary care resulted in modest improvements in prescribing of disease-modifying medications but did not improve clinical outcomes in a population that was relatively well treated at baseline.

Trial registration number, ISRCTN70118765.