Drug-Drug Interactions among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Greece

Abstract

The modulation of the pharmacological action of drugs due to drug-drug interactions (DDIs) is a critical issue in healthcare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the clinical significance of potential DDIs in patients admitted to the University Hospital of Heraklion in Greece with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cardiovascular disorders (58.4%) and diabetes (types I and II) (29.6%) were the most common comorbidities. A high occurrence of DDIs was observed, and clinically significant DDIs that may hamper response to treatment represented 40.3% of cases on admission, 21% during hospitalization, and 40.7% upon discharge. Polypharmacy and comorbidities were associated with a higher prevalence of DDIs in a statistically significant way (p < 0.05, 95% CI). Clinically significant DDIs and increased C-reactive protein values upon admission were associated with prolonged hospitalization. The results reveal that patients admitted due to COVID-19 in Greece often have an additional burden of DDIs that healthcare teams should approach and resolve.

Convalescent Plasma Treatment of Patients Previously Treated with B-Cell-Depleting Monoclonal Antibodies Suffering COVID-19 Is Associated with Reduced Re-Admission Rates

“…Herein, we retrospectively studied a cohort of patients admitted to the COVID-19 department of the University Hospital of Heraklion who had been previously treated with a B-cell-depleting monoclonal antibody and identified a mortality of about 15.4% which is a rate similar to that for the general population hospitalized for COVID-19 [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. Notably, the mortality noted in patients with previous use of B-cell-depleting monoclonal antibodies was also similar to the mortality in the general population noted in another recent study involving patients hospitalized in the same department as in the present study [ 47 ].…”

Prescribed Versus Taken Polypharmacy and Drug–Drug Interactions in Older Cardiovascular Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

“…The highest median DDI index in our study was observed in patients with COVID-19. Notably, in the study by Spanakis and others [28], clinically significant DDIs of "serious-use alternative" or "use with caution-monitor" management were found in 40.3% of cases upon admission, 21% during hospitalization, and 40.7% upon discharge, suggesting that the efforts of a medical team can successfully reduce the risks associated with dangerous DDIs during a hospital stay. It is clear that serious DDIs can hinder treatment response and complicate hospitalization in COVID-19 patients [28].…”

Antibiotics and Lipid-Modifying Agents: Potential Drug–Drug Interactions and Their Clinical Implications

“…( Figure 1 ). Contemplating the accumulated evidence derived from experts’ opinions, in silico, in vitro and in vivo data, clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and reports from regulatory authorities that update the Summary of Product Characteristics, potential DDIs can be categorized considering clinical significance as “Serious-Use alternative” (SUA), “Use with caution-Monitor” (Monitor), and “Moderate-Minor” (MM) DDIs [ 4 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”