Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS IN INDIA

Pavan Kumar K.*, Srinivas Rao B., Priyanka B., Apoorva Dev M. and Sai Krishna G.

Abstract

Background: Now a day’s drug therapy is becoming more complex. Nevertheless in clinical practice Drug-Drug Interactions (DDIs) may lead to an increased risk of hospitalization and higher health care costs. Although prescription of more drugs for one patient is common and a necessary practice, it shown that the incidence of potential DDIs (pDDIs) is close to 40% in patients taking 5 drugs and exceeds 80% in patients taking 7 or more medications. Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted over a period of 6 months in hospitalized patients. The patient’s information’s was taken from the patient records, case sheets or drug charts. The medications of a patient were analyzed for possible interactions. Pearson correlation was used for estimating correlation between the hospital stay and drug interactions, number of drugs dispensed and the occurrence of drug interactions at 95% confidence level with p value < 0.05. Results: A total of 200 patients were enrolled in the study. 339 potential Drug Drug Interactions (pDDIs) were identified among 139 patients. The incidence 69.5% of pDDIs was identified. The most common interactions with anticoagulants (24%), antiplatelets (15%) and antibiotics (15%) followed by other medications. Majority of interactions were moderate, delayed onset and pharmacodynamic in nature. Conclusion: The present study identified and documented pDDIs in hospitalized patients. Factors which lead to drug interactions were identified. This study highlights the need for screening prescriptions of hospitalized patients for pDDIs and pro active monitoring of patients who have identified risk factors which helps in detection and prevention of possible ADRs.

Keywords: Potential Drug-Drug Interactions, in-patients, and drug chart review.