Adverse Drug Reactions in a Pulmonary Teaching Hospital: Incidence, Pattern, Seriousness, and Preventability

Shadi      Baniasadi; Fanak      Fahimi

Abstract

Introduction: Monitoring and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in specialized hospitals provide an important measure to identify and quantify the risks associated with the use of specific drugs.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the incidence, pattern, seriousness, and preventability of hospital-acquired ADRs, in medical wards of a pulmonary teaching hospital in Iran.

Methods: The study was conducted based on the ADRs reported by clinicians, nurses, and clinical pharmacists between March 2009 and February 2011 to the ADR reporting unit of the hospital. The incidence, pattern, seriousness, and preventability of the reported ADRs were analyzed.

Results: During the period of 24 months, for 11975 patients, 306 ADR reports were received. The most frequently reported reactions were due to anti-infective agents (34.08%). Rifampin accounted for the highest number of the reported ADRs among anti-infective agents. The gastro-intestinal system was the most frequently affected system (21.90% of all reactions). Seventy two (23.53%) of the ADRs were reported as serious reactions and twenty-five (8.17%) of the ADRs were classified as preventable.

Conclusions: Our study shows that ADRs pattern in our hospital is different from the other studies. Preventive measures have decreased the preventable ADRs and ensured safer drug use. Education and clinical pharmacist interventions have increased the quality and quantity of reported ADRs.

Keywords: Adverse drug reaction, clinical pharmacist, hospital, pharmacovigilance, spontaneous reporting, yellow card, Rifampin, Anti-infective agents, gastro-intestinal system