Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Increase of 10% in the Rate of Adverse Drug Reactions for Each Drug Administered in Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the risk factors, incidence and severity of adverse drug reactions in in-patients.

METHODS:

This prospective study evaluated 472 patients treated at a teaching hospital in Brazil between 2010 and 2013 by five medical specialties: Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Geriatrics, Neurology, and Clinical Immunology and Allergy. The following variables were assessed: patient age, gender, comorbidities, family history of hypersensitivity, personal and family history of atopy, number of prescribed drugs before and during hospitalization, hospital diagnoses, days of hospitalization. The patients were visited every other day, and medical records were reviewed by the investigators to detect adverse drug reactions.

RESULTS:

There were a total of 94 adverse drug reactions in 75 patients. Most reactions were predictable and of moderate severity. The incidence of adverse drug reactions was 16.2%, and the incidence varied, according to the medical specialty; it was higher in Internal Medicine (30%). Antibiotics were the most commonly involved medication. Chronic renal failure, longer hospital stay, greater number of diagnoses and greater number of medications upon admission were risk factors. For each medication introduced during hospitalization, there was a 10% increase in the rate of adverse drug reaction. In the present study, the probability of observing an adverse drug reaction was 1 in 104 patients per day.

CONCLUSIONS:

Adverse drug reactions are frequent and potentially serious and should be better monitored in patients with chronic renal failure or prolonged hospitalization and especially in those on ‘polypharmacy’ regimens. The rational use of medications plays an important role in preventing adverse drug reactions.

Adverse Drug Reactions; Hypersensitivity Reactions; In-patients; Incidence; Risk factors


INTRODUCTION

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in hospitalized patients can be divided into two categories: those that are the cause of hospital admission, and those that occur during hospitalization (11. Davies EC, Green CF, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Mottram DR, Pirmohamed M. Adverse drug reactions in hospital in-patients: a prospective analysis of 3695 patient-episodes. PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
). There are limited data on ADRs, especially regarding the reactions that occur after admission. It is estimated that ADRs occur in 10% of the general population and 10 to 20% of in-patients (11. Davies EC, Green CF, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Mottram DR, Pirmohamed M. Adverse drug reactions in hospital in-patients: a prospective analysis of 3695 patient-episodes. PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
,22. Gomes ER, Demoly P. Epidemiology of hypersensitivity drug reactions. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;5(4):309-16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.all.0000173785.81024.33.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.all.0000173...
). Approximately 15 to 20% of ADRs correspond to hypersensitivity drug reactions (HDRs), which are induced by exposure to a drug in a dose that is usually tolerated by healthy individuals, and the reactions are characterized by objective symptoms that can be reproduced following subsequent re-exposure (22. Gomes ER, Demoly P. Epidemiology of hypersensitivity drug reactions. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;5(4):309-16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.all.0000173785.81024.33.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.all.0000173...
, 33. Johansson SG, Bieber T, Dahl R, Friedmann PS, Lanier BQ, Lockey RF, et al. Revised nomenclature for allergy for global use: Report of the Nomenclature Review Committee of the World Allergy Organization, October 2003. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113(5):832-6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2003.12.591.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2003.12...
).

A meta-analysis of 33 prospective studies from the United States, between 1966 and 1996, showed that 15.1% of hospitalized patients suffered an ADR and 0.32% of patients hospitalized died because of an ADR, with an estimated 106,000 deaths during this period (44. Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. JAMA. 1998;279(15):1200-5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.15.1200.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.15.12...
). There are questions about the methodology and validity of this study because of its heterogeneity, including differences in population, surveillance techniques and ADR definitions (55. Kvasz M, Allen IE, Gordon MJ, Ro EY, Estok R, Olkin I, et al. Adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: A critique of a meta-analysis. MedGenMed. 2000;2(2):E3.). In England, a study evaluating 18,820 patients, has found that 6.5% of hospitalizations were directly caused by an ADR, and another research showed that 15.8% of hospitalized patients developed an ADR (11. Davies EC, Green CF, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Mottram DR, Pirmohamed M. Adverse drug reactions in hospital in-patients: a prospective analysis of 3695 patient-episodes. PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
, 66. Pirmohamed M, James S, Meakin S, Green C, Scott AK, Walley TJ, et al. Adverse drug reactions as cause of admission to hospital: prospective analysis of 18 820 patients. BMJ. 2004;329(7456):15-9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7456.15.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7456.1...
).

With the current demographic changes, such as an aging population, in addition to changes in clinical practice that have occurred in recent decades, there is a need for further studies on ADRs (11. Davies EC, Green CF, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Mottram DR, Pirmohamed M. Adverse drug reactions in hospital in-patients: a prospective analysis of 3695 patient-episodes. PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
). The detection of ADRs in hospitals is an important measure of morbidity associated with drug use, and their burden on health system (77. Sánchez Muãoz-Torrero JF, Barquilla P, Velasco R, Fernández Capitan Mdel C, Pacheco N, Vicente L, et al. Adverse drug reactions in internal medicine units and associated risk factors. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2010;66(12):1257-64, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0866-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-086...
). The incidence of hospital ADRs is a key parameter for determining the quality of care. Furthermore, inadequate information about ADR rates is the most important factor in the failure to adopt measures that have a significant impact on patient safety (88. Khan LM. Comparative epidemiology of hospital-acquired adverse drug reactions in adults and children and their impact on cost and hospital stay--a systematic review. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2013;69(12):1985-96, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-013-1563-z.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-013-156...
).

In-patients represent a population of special interest because ADRs can be observed directly in these patients, who usually have many comorbidities and require treatment with special medications (99. Krähenbühl-Melcher A, Schlienger R, Lampert M, Haschke M, Drewe J, Krähenbühl S. Drug-related problems in hospitals: a review of the recent literature. Drug Saf. 2007;30(5):379-407, http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200730050-00003.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00002018-20073...
). The present study assessed the clinical and demographic features of patients with ADRs, identifying the risk factors associated with the reactions.

METHOD

Study design and subjects

This observational and prospective study was performed from February 2010 to December 2013 in five medical specialty infirmaries specialties at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), a tertiary teaching hospital. The medical specialties involved in the study were: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Neurology, Geriatrics, and Immunology. The study protocol was approved by the HCFMUSP Ethics Committee (Protocol: 550/08) and was in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975. All patients provided written informed consent.

A convenience sample was selected to form a prospective cohort. Sampling occurred on random days and ended when we recruited the target number of patients (n=100) from each infirmary.

The follow-up was performed from study inclusion until hospital discharge. The included were at least 18 years of age, represented both genders, had a minimum hospital stay of 48 hours, and had the cognitive ability to answer the study questionnaires. Patients with an ADR as the cause of hospitalization were excluded. If there were repeated hospitalizations for a single patient, only data from the first admission were included.

Procedures

Participants were interviewed with the questionnaire suggested by ENDA (European Network for Drug Allergy) (1010. Demoly P, Kropf R, Bircher A, Pichler WJ. Drug hypersensitivity: questionnaire. EAACI interest group on drug hypersensitivity. Allergy. 1999;54(9):999-1003, http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.1999.00247.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.19...
,1111. Demoly P, Kropf R, Bircher A, Pichler WJ, European Network of Drug Allergy. Hipersensibilidade a drogas: questionario. Rev Port Imunoalergologia. 2001;8(4):231-5.). A questionnaire assessing asthma and atopy, developed from GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) and ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood), was also used (1212. From the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). 2012. Available from: http://www.ginasthma.org/.n.
http://www.ginasthma.org/.n...

13. Agondi RC, Barros MT, Rizzo LV, Kalil J, Giavina-Bianchi P. Allergic asthma in patients with common variable immunodeficiency. Allergy. 2010;65(4):510-5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02211.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.20...
-1414. Asher I. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). N Z Med J. 2008;121(1279):117-8.).

All questionnaires were administered by a single researcher, MRR, who is a specialist in clinical immunology and allergy, with expertise in drug adverse reactions. After the first interview, visits on alternate days were conducted by the same researcher to monitor patient records, laboratory exams, and prescriptions. Patients in each infirmary were followed until discharge. All patients were instructed to contact or visit their medical specialty if they had any reaction within 30 days after hospital discharge. The medical staff at the medical specialties were oriented about the study and could directly inform the researchers when there was an ADR.

Admission to the hospital was considered the exposure and the presence or absence of ADRs was the outcome. The definition suggested by the World Health Organization for an ADR is: “undesirable and unintended reactions that occur due to the use of a particular medication at pharmacological doses for therapy, prophylaxis or diagnosis” (1515. World Health Organization W. WHO Technical Report 498. 1972. Available at: www.who-umc.org/graphics/24756.pdf.
www.who-umc.org/graphics/24756.pdf...
). HDRs, a subgroup of ADRs, which are based on the individual’s predisposition, include unexpected reactions initiated by exposure to a drug, in a dose usually tolerated by healthy individuals, and characterized by objective signs and symptoms that could be reproduced following re-exposure (33. Johansson SG, Bieber T, Dahl R, Friedmann PS, Lanier BQ, Lockey RF, et al. Revised nomenclature for allergy for global use: Report of the Nomenclature Review Committee of the World Allergy Organization, October 2003. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113(5):832-6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2003.12.591.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2003.12...
). The scale of probability (Naranjo et al.) was used to establish a causal relationship and classify the ADRs as ’possible, probable or definite’ (1616. Naranjo CA, Busto U, Sellers EM, Sandor P, Ruiz I, Roberts EA, et al. A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1981;30(2):239-45, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1981.154.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1981.154...
). Any ADRs that were classified as ’doubtful’ were excluded. We classified the ADRs as A (predictable) and B (unpredictable), according to criteria developed by Rawlins and Thompson (1717. Rawlins M, Thompon J. Pathogenesis of adverse drug reactions. In Davies DM (Ed). Textbook of adverse drug reactions.: Oxford University Press; 1977. p. 10-31.). The ADRs were scored according to severity using the criteria of Hartwig et al. (i.e., “mild, moderate or severe”) (1818. Hartwig SC, Siegel J, Schneider PJ. Preventability and severity assessment in reporting adverse drug reactions. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1992;49(9):2229-32.). All classifications were made by consensus of three researchers, MRR, AAM, and PGB.

The following qualitative variables were assessed: gender, race, age, family history of HDRs, personal and/or family history of atopy, asthma diagnosis, chronic renal failure, congestive heart failure, liver disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and chronic urticaria. The quantitative variables that were measured included the number of comorbidities, number of hospital diagnoses, number of medications before and during hospitalization, and number of days of hospitalization. The medical specialties were compared using qualitative and quantitative variables.

Statistical Analysis

Patient characteristics were described using absolute and relative frequencies for the qualitative variables, and summary measures (mean, standard deviation, median, P25 and P75) for the quantitative variables. The associations between qualitative variables and the medical specialties were checked using chi-square tests, or tests of likelihood ratio, according to Kirkwood and Sterne (1919. Kirkwood B, Sterne J. Essential medical statistics. 2nd ed. Massachusetts, USA: Blackwell Science; 2006.). Quantitative characteristics were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by the Dunn multiple comparison (except for ages, which were compared using ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons) (2020. Neter J, Kutner M, CJ N, Wasserman W. Applied Linear Statistical Models. 4. ed. Ilinois: Richard D. Irwing. 1408p. 4th ed: Ilinois; 1996.).

The chi-square test of likelihood ratio test or the Fisher exact test was used to identify possible associations between qualitative variables. Quantitative variables, according to the occurrence of reactions, were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test, except for age, which was compared using Student’s t-test (1919. Kirkwood B, Sterne J. Essential medical statistics. 2nd ed. Massachusetts, USA: Blackwell Science; 2006.). The odds ratios of each variable of interest associated with the general ADRs and HDRs, with confidence intervals of 95%, were calculated using simple logistic regression, which was performed to quantify the isolated influence of each feature in the adverse reaction events (2121. Hosmer D, Lemeshow S. Applied Logistic Regression. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons; 2000. p. 320.).

Multiple logistic regression models were estimated for the general ADRs by selecting the variables that showed levels of significance lower than 0.20 (p<0.20) in the bivariate tests, and lower than 0.05 (p<0.05) for the HDRs because of the low number of hypersensitivity reactions (2121. Hosmer D, Lemeshow S. Applied Logistic Regression. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons; 2000. p. 320.).

RESULTS

A total of 472 patients were selected and 8 (1.7%) were hospitalized due to ADRs. Therefore, the prevalence of ADRs as a cause of hospitalization was 1.7%. We included 464 patients distributed as follows: 100 patients each in Geriatrics, Internal Medicine and General Surgery, and 103 patients in Neurology. Immunology included only 61 patients, due to a large number of readmissions.

The average age of the patients included in the study was 57.5 years (SD±19.9), and 239 (51.5%) were female. The mean hospital stay was 16.8 days, and the average number of medications used during hospitalization was 15.5 medications per patient.

We observed 94 ADRs in 75 patients who had at least one adverse reaction. The overall incidence of ADRs during hospitalization was 16.2%, and the incidence of ADRs according to the medical specialty varied; the incidence was higher in Internal Medicine (Figure 1) (p=0.001). There was no difference in the incidence of HDRs between medical specialties (p=0.278).

Figure 1
Incidence of ADRs and HDRs by medical specialty (%). ADR: Adverse drug reaction HDR: Hypersensitivity drug reaction. The ADR rate was higher in Internal Medicine (p=0.001).

There were more ADRs in patients with chronic renal failure (p=0.012), prolonged hospital stays (p<0.001), higher number of diagnoses (p<0.001), and higher number of medications used during their hospital stay (p<0.001). After multiple logistic regression models were applied, it was found that for each medication introduced during hospitalization, there was a 10% increase in the rate of an overall adverse event (p<0.001), independent of other patient characteristics. Similarly, the increase of one medication during hospitalization caused a 14% increase in the chance of HDR (p<0.001). There was a 57% less chance of new ADRs in patients with a previous history of ADRs (p=0.017) (Table 1).

Table 1
Odds ratio of experiencing an ADR by medical specialty, history of previous ADR and number of medications.

The predictable ADRs, type A, were most frequently observed (84% of ADRs), with gastrointestinal manifestations being the most common (Table 2). According to the criteria developed by Naranjo et al., most of the ADRs were classified as “possible or likely” because skin and/or provocation tests were not performed to confirm a causal relationship (1616. Naranjo CA, Busto U, Sellers EM, Sandor P, Ruiz I, Roberts EA, et al. A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1981;30(2):239-45, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1981.154.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1981.154...
).

Table 2
ADRs and related drugs.

Symptomatic medications were the most commonly prescribed. The primary medication groups that caused ADRs were antibiotics (21.2%), followed by opioids (13.8%), and iodinated contrast media (10.6%) (Figure 2). Seven patients developed ADR due to drug interactions (Table 2). Skin eruptions were the most common HDR (53.3%), followed by hematologic (26.6%) and gastrointestinal manifestations (13.3%); one patient had a systemic reaction (anaphylaxis). There was no significant difference in the frequency of immediate (i.e., occurring within 1 hour after the drug administration) or non-immediate HDRs.

Figure 2
Most frequently prescribed medications (A) and medications associated with ADRs (B). ADR: Adverse drug reactions.

ADR incidence density varied between the medical specialties. However, when considered collectively, we observed one patient with an ADR per 104 patients per day. The probability of observing one HDR was one for every 500 patients in any one day (Table 3). According to the severity level described by Hartwig et al. (1818. Hartwig SC, Siegel J, Schneider PJ. Preventability and severity assessment in reporting adverse drug reactions. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1992;49(9):2229-32.), most ADRs were moderate (44.7%), requiring treatment and/or extension of hospital stay, followed by mild (42.5%), and severe (12.8%).

Table 3
Incidence density of ADR and HDR by medical specialty.

DISCUSSION

The prevalence of ADRs in this study as a cause of hospitalization was 1.7%, which is similar to another Brazilian study, which observed an ADR prevalence of 2.1% in 10,272 patients (2222. Noblat AC, Noblat LA, Toledo LA, Santos Pde M, Oliveira MG, Tanajura GM, et al. [Prevalence of hospital admission due to adverse drug reaction in Salvador, Bahia]. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2011;57(1):42-5.). Higher rates, 3.3% in 4,332 patients and 6.5% in 18,820, have been shown in two European surveys. While the objective of these studies were to assess the prevalence of ADRs as the cause of hospital admission (66. Pirmohamed M, James S, Meakin S, Green C, Scott AK, Walley TJ, et al. Adverse drug reactions as cause of admission to hospital: prospective analysis of 18 820 patients. BMJ. 2004;329(7456):15-9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7456.15.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7456.1...
,2323. Fattinger K, Roos M, Vergeres P, Holenstein C, Kind B, Masche U, et al. Epidemiology of drug exposure and adverse drug reactions in two Swiss departments of internal medicine. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;49(2):158-67, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00132.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.20...
), we analyzed hospitalized patients in specific clinical areas.

We observed an overall ADR incidence of 16.2%, with variations in the different medical specialties that were analyzed, and the incidence was higher in Internal Medicine (30%). The overall incidence density observed showed the likelihood of an ADR was one in every 104 patients hospitalized in any one day. Another study evaluated 3,695 patients and also found differences across 12 medical specialties (11. Davies EC, Green CF, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Mottram DR, Pirmohamed M. Adverse drug reactions in hospital in-patients: a prospective analysis of 3695 patient-episodes. PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
).

Several studies have shown similar values to ours, in terms of general ADR incidence (between 10% and 15.8%) (11. Davies EC, Green CF, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Mottram DR, Pirmohamed M. Adverse drug reactions in hospital in-patients: a prospective analysis of 3695 patient-episodes. PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
,44. Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. JAMA. 1998;279(15):1200-5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.15.1200.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.15.12...
,2323. Fattinger K, Roos M, Vergeres P, Holenstein C, Kind B, Masche U, et al. Epidemiology of drug exposure and adverse drug reactions in two Swiss departments of internal medicine. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;49(2):158-67, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00132.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.20...

24. Suh DC, Woodall BS, Shin SK, Hermes-De Santis ER. Clinical and economic impact of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients. Ann Pharmacother. 2000;34(12):1373-9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1345/aph.10094.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1345/aph.10094...
-2525. Pourseyed S, Fattahi F, Pourpak Z, Gholami K, Shariatpanahi SS, Moin A, et al. Adverse drug reactions in patients in an Iranian department of internal medicine. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2009;18(2):104-10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.1663.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.1663...
), except for one study that observed a rate of 31% (77. Sánchez Muãoz-Torrero JF, Barquilla P, Velasco R, Fernández Capitan Mdel C, Pacheco N, Vicente L, et al. Adverse drug reactions in internal medicine units and associated risk factors. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2010;66(12):1257-64, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0866-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-086...
). In terms of the Internal Medicine results, our incidence was similar to the rate observed in another study, which found an incidence of 22% (2626. Lobo MG, Pinheiro SM, Castro JG, Momenté VG, Pranchevicius MC. Adverse drug reaction monitoring: support for pharmacovigilance at a tertiary care hospital in Northern Brazil. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2013;14:5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-5.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-5...
). The discrepancy observed between studies may be explained by differences in the study populations and the ADR definitions used.

There are limitations related to the Naranjo criteria, which are intended to assess the likelihood of an ADR associated with only one drug, and confounding variables can compromise the sensibility and specificity of this method, such as other algorithms. However, these criteria are used by many authors when reporting drug interactions and are recommended by several journals to reviewers of manuscripts. In a study comparing three different pharmacovigilance algorithms (Kramer algorithm, Naranjo criteria and Jones algorithm) used to assess the likelihood of an ADR in the intensive care unit showed similar results, suggesting that the selection of any of these three instruments is reasonable (2727. Kane-Gill SL, Forsberg EA, Verrico MM, Handler SM. Comparison of three pharmacovigilance algorithms in the ICU setting: a retrospective and prospective evaluation of ADRs. Drug Saf. 2012;35(8):645-53, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03261961.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03261961...
).

Chronic renal failure patients had more ADRs, as did patients with longer hospitalization stays, a greater number of diagnoses, and greater number of medications used at admission. The number of medications used was the only independent risk factor for ADRs observed in this study, which is similar to the results from another study (11. Davies EC, Green CF, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Mottram DR, Pirmohamed M. Adverse drug reactions in hospital in-patients: a prospective analysis of 3695 patient-episodes. PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
). The largest number of diagnoses during hospitalization was observed in the Internal Medicine and Geriatric infirmaries, reflecting the highest number of drugs prescribed in these medical specialties, and the highest incidence of ADRs was in Internal Medicine patients. Age was not an isolated risk factor for ADRs, differing from other studies (77. Sánchez Muãoz-Torrero JF, Barquilla P, Velasco R, Fernández Capitan Mdel C, Pacheco N, Vicente L, et al. Adverse drug reactions in internal medicine units and associated risk factors. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2010;66(12):1257-64, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0866-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-086...
,2323. Fattinger K, Roos M, Vergeres P, Holenstein C, Kind B, Masche U, et al. Epidemiology of drug exposure and adverse drug reactions in two Swiss departments of internal medicine. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;49(2):158-67, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00132.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.20...
,2626. Lobo MG, Pinheiro SM, Castro JG, Momenté VG, Pranchevicius MC. Adverse drug reaction monitoring: support for pharmacovigilance at a tertiary care hospital in Northern Brazil. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2013;14:5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-5.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-5...
). A history of previous ADR was a protective factor for the occurrence of new ADRs (p=0.017), probably because the awareness ’prevents’ further exposure to certain medication classes. The only independent risk factor for HDR during hospitalization was the number of medications on admission (p<0.001), and each new medication prescribed for patients during hospitalization, increased the rate of HDR by 14%.

Type A reactions were the most common (84% of ADR), particularly gastrointestinal manifestations, as in other studies (77. Sánchez Muãoz-Torrero JF, Barquilla P, Velasco R, Fernández Capitan Mdel C, Pacheco N, Vicente L, et al. Adverse drug reactions in internal medicine units and associated risk factors. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2010;66(12):1257-64, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0866-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-086...
,2323. Fattinger K, Roos M, Vergeres P, Holenstein C, Kind B, Masche U, et al. Epidemiology of drug exposure and adverse drug reactions in two Swiss departments of internal medicine. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;49(2):158-67, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00132.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.20...

24. Suh DC, Woodall BS, Shin SK, Hermes-De Santis ER. Clinical and economic impact of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients. Ann Pharmacother. 2000;34(12):1373-9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1345/aph.10094.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1345/aph.10094...
-2525. Pourseyed S, Fattahi F, Pourpak Z, Gholami K, Shariatpanahi SS, Moin A, et al. Adverse drug reactions in patients in an Iranian department of internal medicine. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2009;18(2):104-10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.1663.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.1663...
,2828. Khan LM, Al-Harthi SE, Saadah OI, Al-Amoudi AB, Sulaiman MI, Ibrahim IM. Impact of pharmacovigilance on adverse drug reactions reporting in hospitalized internal medicine patients at Saudi Arabian teaching hospital. Saudi Med J. 2012;33(8):863-8.-2929. Ramesh M, Pandit J, Parthasarathi G. Adverse drug reactions in a south Indian hospital--their severity and cost involved. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2003;12(8):687-92, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.871.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.871...
). The incidence of skin reactions was 2%, which is higher than the rate of 0.7% reported in another study (3030. Hernandez-Salazar A, Rosales SP, Rangel-Frausto S, Criollo E, Archer-Dubon C, Orozco-Topete R. Epidemiology of adverse cutaneous drug reactions. A prospective study in hospitalized patients. Arch Med Res. 2006;37(7):899-902, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2006.03.010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2006....
). In HDRs, skin manifestations were the most common presentations restricted to one organ (53.3%). Most observed ADRs were classified as moderate, with high morbidity, in accordance with other studies (2626. Lobo MG, Pinheiro SM, Castro JG, Momenté VG, Pranchevicius MC. Adverse drug reaction monitoring: support for pharmacovigilance at a tertiary care hospital in Northern Brazil. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2013;14:5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-5.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-5...
,2929. Ramesh M, Pandit J, Parthasarathi G. Adverse drug reactions in a south Indian hospital--their severity and cost involved. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2003;12(8):687-92, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.871.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.871...
). The rate of 12.8% for severe reactions observed in the present study is also consistent with the literature (11. Davies EC, Green CF, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Mottram DR, Pirmohamed M. Adverse drug reactions in hospital in-patients: a prospective analysis of 3695 patient-episodes. PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
,2525. Pourseyed S, Fattahi F, Pourpak Z, Gholami K, Shariatpanahi SS, Moin A, et al. Adverse drug reactions in patients in an Iranian department of internal medicine. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2009;18(2):104-10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.1663.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.1663...
,3131. Arulmani R, Rajendran SD, Suresh B. Adverse drug reaction monitoring in a secondary care hospital in South India. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008;65(2):210-6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2007.02993.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.20...
).

Symptomatic medications were the most prescribed agents during hospitalization, highlighted in descending order: dipyrone, omeprazole and metoclopramide. Dipyrone use is not permitted in many countries where paracetamol is identified as the most prescribed alternative (2323. Fattinger K, Roos M, Vergeres P, Holenstein C, Kind B, Masche U, et al. Epidemiology of drug exposure and adverse drug reactions in two Swiss departments of internal medicine. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;49(2):158-67, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00132.x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.20...
). Antibiotics caused the most ADRs and HDRs (21.2%), followed by opioids and iodinated contrast agents, which aligns with current literature data (22. Gomes ER, Demoly P. Epidemiology of hypersensitivity drug reactions. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;5(4):309-16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.all.0000173785.81024.33.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.all.0000173...
,2828. Khan LM, Al-Harthi SE, Saadah OI, Al-Amoudi AB, Sulaiman MI, Ibrahim IM. Impact of pharmacovigilance on adverse drug reactions reporting in hospitalized internal medicine patients at Saudi Arabian teaching hospital. Saudi Med J. 2012;33(8):863-8.).

ADRs are common and potentially serious events that should be monitored through pharmacovigilance interventions that increase the number of notifications because many events are not reported spontaneously. Our study contributes further evidence to warn health professionals about the important role of rational use of medications and to support the prevention of ADRs, a significant problem into health systems, particularly in patients with chronic renal failure, prolonged hospitalization, or those on “polypharmacy” medicine regimens.

References

  • 1
    Davies EC, Green CF, Taylor S, Williamson PR, Mottram DR, Pirmohamed M. Adverse drug reactions in hospital in-patients: a prospective analysis of 3695 patient-episodes. PLoS One. 2009;4(2):e4439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004439
  • 2
    Gomes ER, Demoly P. Epidemiology of hypersensitivity drug reactions. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;5(4):309-16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.all.0000173785.81024.33
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.all.0000173785.81024.33
  • 3
    Johansson SG, Bieber T, Dahl R, Friedmann PS, Lanier BQ, Lockey RF, et al. Revised nomenclature for allergy for global use: Report of the Nomenclature Review Committee of the World Allergy Organization, October 2003. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113(5):832-6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2003.12.591
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2003.12.591
  • 4
    Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. JAMA. 1998;279(15):1200-5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.15.1200
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.279.15.1200
  • 5
    Kvasz M, Allen IE, Gordon MJ, Ro EY, Estok R, Olkin I, et al. Adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: A critique of a meta-analysis. MedGenMed. 2000;2(2):E3.
  • 6
    Pirmohamed M, James S, Meakin S, Green C, Scott AK, Walley TJ, et al. Adverse drug reactions as cause of admission to hospital: prospective analysis of 18 820 patients. BMJ. 2004;329(7456):15-9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7456.15
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7456.15
  • 7
    Sánchez Muãoz-Torrero JF, Barquilla P, Velasco R, Fernández Capitan Mdel C, Pacheco N, Vicente L, et al. Adverse drug reactions in internal medicine units and associated risk factors. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2010;66(12):1257-64, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0866-6
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0866-6
  • 8
    Khan LM. Comparative epidemiology of hospital-acquired adverse drug reactions in adults and children and their impact on cost and hospital stay--a systematic review. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2013;69(12):1985-96, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-013-1563-z
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-013-1563-z
  • 9
    Krähenbühl-Melcher A, Schlienger R, Lampert M, Haschke M, Drewe J, Krähenbühl S. Drug-related problems in hospitals: a review of the recent literature. Drug Saf. 2007;30(5):379-407, http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200730050-00003
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200730050-00003
  • 10
    Demoly P, Kropf R, Bircher A, Pichler WJ. Drug hypersensitivity: questionnaire. EAACI interest group on drug hypersensitivity. Allergy. 1999;54(9):999-1003, http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.1999.00247.x
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.1999.00247.x
  • 11
    Demoly P, Kropf R, Bircher A, Pichler WJ, European Network of Drug Allergy. Hipersensibilidade a drogas: questionario. Rev Port Imunoalergologia. 2001;8(4):231-5.
  • 12
    From the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). 2012. Available from: http://www.ginasthma.org/.n
    » http://www.ginasthma.org/.n
  • 13
    Agondi RC, Barros MT, Rizzo LV, Kalil J, Giavina-Bianchi P. Allergic asthma in patients with common variable immunodeficiency. Allergy. 2010;65(4):510-5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02211.x
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02211.x
  • 14
    Asher I. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). N Z Med J. 2008;121(1279):117-8.
  • 15
    World Health Organization W. WHO Technical Report 498. 1972. Available at: www.who-umc.org/graphics/24756.pdf
    » www.who-umc.org/graphics/24756.pdf
  • 16
    Naranjo CA, Busto U, Sellers EM, Sandor P, Ruiz I, Roberts EA, et al. A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1981;30(2):239-45, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1981.154
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/clpt.1981.154
  • 17
    Rawlins M, Thompon J. Pathogenesis of adverse drug reactions. In Davies DM (Ed). Textbook of adverse drug reactions.: Oxford University Press; 1977. p. 10-31.
  • 18
    Hartwig SC, Siegel J, Schneider PJ. Preventability and severity assessment in reporting adverse drug reactions. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1992;49(9):2229-32.
  • 19
    Kirkwood B, Sterne J. Essential medical statistics. 2nd ed. Massachusetts, USA: Blackwell Science; 2006.
  • 20
    Neter J, Kutner M, CJ N, Wasserman W. Applied Linear Statistical Models. 4. ed. Ilinois: Richard D. Irwing. 1408p. 4th ed: Ilinois; 1996.
  • 21
    Hosmer D, Lemeshow S. Applied Logistic Regression. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons; 2000. p. 320.
  • 22
    Noblat AC, Noblat LA, Toledo LA, Santos Pde M, Oliveira MG, Tanajura GM, et al. [Prevalence of hospital admission due to adverse drug reaction in Salvador, Bahia]. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2011;57(1):42-5.
  • 23
    Fattinger K, Roos M, Vergeres P, Holenstein C, Kind B, Masche U, et al. Epidemiology of drug exposure and adverse drug reactions in two Swiss departments of internal medicine. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;49(2):158-67, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00132.x
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00132.x
  • 24
    Suh DC, Woodall BS, Shin SK, Hermes-De Santis ER. Clinical and economic impact of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients. Ann Pharmacother. 2000;34(12):1373-9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1345/aph.10094
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1345/aph.10094
  • 25
    Pourseyed S, Fattahi F, Pourpak Z, Gholami K, Shariatpanahi SS, Moin A, et al. Adverse drug reactions in patients in an Iranian department of internal medicine. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2009;18(2):104-10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.1663
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.1663
  • 26
    Lobo MG, Pinheiro SM, Castro JG, Momenté VG, Pranchevicius MC. Adverse drug reaction monitoring: support for pharmacovigilance at a tertiary care hospital in Northern Brazil. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2013;14:5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-5
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2050-6511-14-5
  • 27
    Kane-Gill SL, Forsberg EA, Verrico MM, Handler SM. Comparison of three pharmacovigilance algorithms in the ICU setting: a retrospective and prospective evaluation of ADRs. Drug Saf. 2012;35(8):645-53, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03261961
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03261961
  • 28
    Khan LM, Al-Harthi SE, Saadah OI, Al-Amoudi AB, Sulaiman MI, Ibrahim IM. Impact of pharmacovigilance on adverse drug reactions reporting in hospitalized internal medicine patients at Saudi Arabian teaching hospital. Saudi Med J. 2012;33(8):863-8.
  • 29
    Ramesh M, Pandit J, Parthasarathi G. Adverse drug reactions in a south Indian hospital--their severity and cost involved. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2003;12(8):687-92, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.871
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.871
  • 30
    Hernandez-Salazar A, Rosales SP, Rangel-Frausto S, Criollo E, Archer-Dubon C, Orozco-Topete R. Epidemiology of adverse cutaneous drug reactions. A prospective study in hospitalized patients. Arch Med Res. 2006;37(7):899-902, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2006.03.010
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2006.03.010
  • 31
    Arulmani R, Rajendran SD, Suresh B. Adverse drug reaction monitoring in a secondary care hospital in South India. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008;65(2):210-6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2007.02993.x
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2007.02993.x

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    2018

History

  • Received
    9 June 2017
  • Accepted
    17 Oct 2017
Creative Common - by 4.0
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Faculdade de Medicina / USP Rua Dr Ovídio Pires de Campos, 225 - 6 and., 05403-010 São Paulo SP - Brazil, Tel.: (55 11) 2661-6235 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: clinics@hc.fm.usp.br