Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes (DM) are two interrelated conditions that have a heavy morbidity and mortality burden worldwide. Patients with the two conditions usually take multiple medicines and thus are more susceptible to medicine-related problems (MRPs). MRPs can occur at any stage of the treatment process and in many cases can lead to unplanned hospitalisations. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of hospitalisation resulting from MRPs in adult patients with CVDs and/or DM and to identify the main causes, risk factors, and medicine classes involved. A retrospective study included 300 adult patients from two hospitals, one in the United Kingdom and one in Saudi Arabia. To identify MRPs, medical records were reviewed for demographic data, clinical data, laboratory assay, and prescription records. A total of 197 (65.7%) patients had MRPs, of which less than 10% were severe. The main problems were lack of treatment effectiveness and adverse drug reactions. Moreover, polypharmacy and patient non-adherence were the main risk factors contributing to MRPs. The main medicine classes associated with MRPs were insulin and antihypertensive medicines. Further research should address the pharmaceutical care processes employed in treating CVDs and DM, and to empower patients/healthcare providers in tackling MRPs.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organisation, by 2020 chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes (DM), will be the major source of morbidity worldwide [1]
Our study indicated that medicine-related problems (MRPs) are a major health issue that leads to hospitalisation in both the UK and Saudi Arabia (SA)
This study revealed that the main MRP problems were related to lack of treatment effectiveness (TE) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs)
Summary
According to the World Health Organisation, by 2020 chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes (DM), will be the major source of morbidity worldwide [1]. CVDs account for 48% of deaths worldwide, whereas DM accounts for 3% [2]. In the UK, CVDs are responsible for 191,000 deaths per year [2], and more than 2.5 million people are diagnosed with. The situation is even more complex in Saudi Arabia (SA), where CVDs and DM account for. A medicine-related problem (MRP) is defined as “an event or circumstance involving drug therapy that or potentially interferes with their desired outcome” [4]. MRPs can occur at any stage of the medication process. Patients with CVDs and DM take multiple medicines from diverse pharmacological classes, raising the likelihood that MRPs may occur
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