Evaluation of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions with Medications Prescribed to Geriatric Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background and Objectives The drugs most commonly implicated in major potential interactions are those used in the day-to-day clinical management of elderly patients with chronic diseases. This study is planned to evaluate the profile of drug-drug interactions in the medications prescribed to elderly population and also to identify the possible predictors for potential drug-drug interactions in the elderly. Methods This cross-sectional study included patients aged above 60 years with a minimum of two drugs in the prescriptions. Data were collected from medical prescriptions and patients' medical records. The data collected included demographic characteristics such as age, gender, height, weight, educational status, socioeconomic status, medical history, and medications prescribed. The prescriptions were analyzed for the potential drug interactions using Lexi-Interact™ Online, an online software to check drug-drug interactions. Results A total of 209 patients were included in the study, among them 104 (49.8%) were males and 105 (50.2%) were females. The mean number of medications received was 6.53 ± 2.15 per prescription. Around 138 (66%) patients received more than six medications. The mean number of potential drug interactions seen in the prescription of these patients was 3.17 ± 2.78. Around 18.2% patients had more than five drug interactions. Major drug interactions were observed in 21.42% of cases. Around 3.02% of drug interactions belonged to risk category X, i.e., to be avoided. Logistic regression analysis showed that age above 70 years was associated with the presence of drug interactions. Increased number of medication was independently associated with the occurrence of drug interactions. The presence of drug interactions was not associated with increased number of comorbidities. Conclusion A significant number of potential drug-drug interactions were seen in the prescriptions of elderly patients. Increasing age and polypharmacy were identified as the predictors of potential drug interactions.

Relationship Between Polypharmacy and Quality of Life Among People in 24 Countries Living With HIV

“…In our study, one of the most common reasons PLHIV switched ART in the past was to reduce the number of medicines or pills they had to take, and 2 in 3 PLHIV were willing to switch to an ART with fewer medications as long as their viral load was suppressed. Concurrent use of multiple medications may considerably increase risk of drug-drug interactions, especially among people with concomitant medications (22)(23)(24), and this concern was well reflected in our study. Recent studies have established that the number of drug-drug interactions increases with the number of medications (22)(23)(24).…”

“…Concurrent use of multiple medications may considerably increase risk of drug-drug interactions, especially among people with concomitant medications (22)(23)(24), and this concern was well reflected in our study. Recent studies have established that the number of drug-drug interactions increases with the number of medications (22)(23)(24). Most non-HIV conditions reported by PLHIV in our study were chronic conditions largely found in the general population, such as mental health conditions, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, which may require long-term management with medications.…”

A Study of Drug Utilization and Potential Drug-Drug Interactions in Outpatient Pharmacy of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

“…Another study conducted by Shetty V et al reported the 663 pDDIs in total 209 patients . 12.75% prescriptions [17] in current study showed at least One pDDI, whereas this value was 83.3 % in the study done by Shetty V et al and 78.2% in the study [17] conducted by Tesfaye ZT et al . [18] Among the prescriptions with at least One pDDI, majority had 1 to 2 pDDIs per prescription in our study, the nding which was in line with that reported by Shetty V et al .…”

Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Practice of Issues Related to Using Psychotropic Medication in Elderly People in Ethiopia: A Prospective Cross‐Sectional Study

“…The study report showed that the elderly patients on average took 2 to 5 drugs, and poly-pharmacy occurred in 20–50% of elderly patients [ 2 , 3 ]. Consequently, adverse drug reactions and drug interactions are more common and more serious in the elderly [ 14 , 15 ]. Frequent checks of used medications, particularly for drug interactions and use of medications, are considered appropriate for the elderly [ 12 , 16 ].…”