Hepatic adverse drug reactions in Malaysia: An 18‐year review of the national centralized reporting system

Abstract

To determine the incidence, demographic profile, background of reporters, causative agents, severity and clinical outcomes of hepatic adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports in Malaysia using the national ADR reporting database. The ADR reports recorded between 2000 and 2017 were retrospectively analysed to identify hepatic ADR reports. The trend and characteristics of hepatic ADR cases were described. Multivariate disproportionality analysis of the causative agents was performed to generate signals of hepatic ADRs. A total of 2090 hepatic ADRs (1.77% of all ADRs) were reported with mortality rate of 12.7% among cases with known clinical outcomes. The incidence of hepatic ADR reporting in Malaysia increased significantly over 18 years from 0.26 to 9.45 per million population (P < .001). Antituberculosis drugs (n = 268, 12.82%) was the most common suspected class of causative agents with a reporting odds ratio (ROR) and 95% CI of 8.39 (7.26-9.70), followed by traditional/complementary medicines or herbal/dietary supplements (TCM/HDS) (n = 235, 11.24%, ROR 3.26 [2.84-3.75]), systemic antibacterials (n = 159, 7.61%, ROR 2.65 [2.25-3.13]), lipid modifying agents (n = 142, 6.79%, ROR 2.21 [1.86-2.63]) and amiodarone (n = 137, 6.56%, ROR 35.25 [28.40-43.75]). Most (72.9%) of the TCM/HDS were not registered with the authorities. Hepatic ADR cases have increased significantly in Malaysia, with antituberculosis drugs, systemic antibacterials, and TCM/HDS being the most common causative agents reported. Most TCM/HDS reported to be associated with hepatic ADR were not registered with the authorities.