Pharmacy point-of-care screening in Poland: improving early detection of cardiovascular risk

Background

Hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia remain underdiagnosed in Poland, contributing to preventable cardiovascular burden and health inequalities. Community pharmacies, as highly accessible healthcare points, may improve early detection and support more equitable access to preventive services.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted in 20 randomly selected community pharmacies in Poland (January–May 2025). Adults aged ≥40 years without diagnosed hypertension (with selected exceptions) were enrolled (n = 95). The intervention included two visits: baseline assessment with three blood pressure measurements, cardiometabolic risk evaluation and lifestyle counselling, followed by a 6-week follow-up with repeated measurements and point-of-care testing for cholesterol and glucose. Statistical analyses assessed changes in clinical parameters.

Results

Newly detected probable hypertension was identified in 21.3% of participants, none previously aware. Elevated cholesterol was found in 55.8%, with 71.7% unaware. Abnormal glucose levels were detected in 2.1%. Significant reductions were observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001) and total cholesterol (p = 0.0002) after 6 weeks. Improvements were achieved through a low-intensity, pharmacy-based intervention. Pharmacies effectively reached individuals with unrecognised risk factors, including populations less engaged with traditional healthcare services.

Conclusions

Pharmacy-based point-of-care screening is a feasible and scalable strategy to improve early detection of cardiovascular risk factors in Poland. This model may enhance equity in access to preventive care, reduce pressure on primary care systems and contribute to cost-effective health promotion. Integrating pharmacists into population health strategies could support more resilient and inclusive health systems in the context of growing chronic disease burden.

Key messages

• Pharmacy-based screening revealed high levels of undiagnosed cardiovascular risk, highlighting missed opportunities for early detection.

• Community pharmacies can deliver effective, low-cost screening that improves detection and strengthens primary care capacity.