Drug–drug interactions in a cohort of hospitalized elderly patients1. (30th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pasina, Luca; Djade, Codjo D.; Nobili, Alessandro; Tettamanti, Mauro; Franchi, Carlotta; Salerno, Francesco; Corrao, Salvatore; Marengoni, Alessandra; Iorio, Alfonso; Marcucci, Maura; Mannucci, PierMannuccio
• Is Part Of: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety. Volume 22:Number 10(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1054
• Page End: 1060
• Publication Date: 2013-08-30
• Subjects: Pharmacoepidemiology -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 615.705
• DOI: 10.1002/pds.3510
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-8569

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="pds3510-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of patients exposed to potentially severe drug–drug interactions (DDIs) at hospital admission and discharge and the related risk of in‐hospital mortality and adverse clinical events, readmission, and all‐cause mortality at 3 months.</p> </sec> <sec id="pds3510-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>This cross‐sectional, prospective study was held in 70 Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards. Potentially severe DDIs at hospital admission and discharge; risk of in‐hospital mortality and of adverse clinical events, readmission, and all‐cause mortality at 3‐month follow‐up.</p> </sec> <sec id="pds3510-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Among 2712 patients aged 65 years or older recruited at hospital admission, 1642 (60.5%) were exposed to at least one potential DDI and 512 (18.9%) to at least one potentially severe DDI. Among 2314 patients discharged, 1598 (69.1%) were exposed to at least one potential DDI and 1561 (24.2%) to at least one potentially severe DDI. Multivariate analysis found a significant association with an increased risk of mortality at 3 months in patients exposed to at least two potentially severe DDIs (Odds ratio 2.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–6.68; <italic>p</italic> = 0.05). Adverse clinical events were potentially related to severe DDIs in two patients who died in the hospital, in five readmitted, and one who died at 3 months after discharge.</p> </sec> <sec id="pds3510-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Hospitalization was associated with an increase in potentially severe DDIs. A significant association was found for mortality at 3 months after discharge in patients with at least two potentially severe DDIs. Careful monitoring for potentially severe DDIs, especially those created at discharge or recently generated, is important to minimize the risk of harm. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>