Potential Drug-Drug Interactions among Geriatric Patients in Medicine Department at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital - A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background Drug-drug interactions occur when therapeutic effect of one drug is altered by another drug during co-administration. These effects may result in increase or decrease in the action of either of the substances or it may cause adverse effect that is abnormally associated with either of the drugs. Data was collected from patients admitted in the Emergency Department.Aim The objective of the study was to identify evaluate and analyze the drug-drug interactions found in the prescriptions of elderly patients visiting the Medical department at a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods This prospective observational study was undertaken in an Emergency ward for a period of six months to identify evaluate and analyze the drug-drug interactions. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee of SCS College of Pharmacy Harapanahalli. A total of three hundred and fifty cases were reviewed and details such as demographics past medical and medication history prescribed drugs and drug interactions were recorded.Results The data of 350 patients was included in the study. In our study a total of 405 drug-drug interactions were seen in 191 patients. The most commonly involved drugs were hydrocortisone and furosemide. Increased polypharmacy was observed in patients with co-morbid conditions leading to increased risk of potential drug-drug interactions PDDI.Conclusion Our study revealed that geriatric patients have higher risk for polypharmacy due to the presence of co-morbid conditions. Overall the incidence of PDDI was high and most interactions were pharmacodynamic in nature.nbsp