An assessment of pattern of adverse drug reactions of cardiovascular drugs in a tertiary care institute

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease is very prevalent in India. So, use of cardiovascular drugs is also more. So, it is very important to keep watch on adverse drug reactions. Aim of this study was to assess the pattern of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported with cardiovascular drugs in a tertiary care institute.Methods: The study was carried out in medicine department of a tertiary care hospital over a period of one year. Each ADR was analysed for demographic data, causality, relationship between frequency of ADRs and the number of drugs used etc. In statistical analysis Microsoft excel 2013, SPSS software was used.Results: A total of 136 patients, 58 (43%) men and 78 (57%) women, using cardiovascular medications reported ADRs during the entire study period. Total 168 ADRs were reported out of which, Amlodipine (causing headache and edema feet) was the most common drug with 51 (30.3%) ADR’s followed by Enalapril, Aspirin and Isosorbide Dinitrate with 37 (22%), 24 (14.2%), 23 (13.6%) ADRs respectively. Most common ADR was headache (due to amlodipine and Isosorbide di nitrate) affecting 38 (22.62%) cases followed by dry cough 37 (22.02%) cases, edema feet 36 (21.43%), gastritis 24 (14.29%) and 10 (5.95%) of nausea.Conclusions: Monitoring ADRs in patients using cardiovascular drugs is a matter of importance since this class of medicines are mostly used as multidrug therapy and always prone for ADRs.