BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the project was to document and evaluate the safety of combinations of drugs prescribed during hospitalization, producing a method of quality assurance assessment. PATIENTS/ METHODS: The medications of 396 patients already taken at home as well as the drugs given in the hospital during an acute illness were analyzed. Potential drug interactions were detected using a computerized drug-interaction checking system i.e. Micromedex CD-ROM database DRUG-REAX. This program differentiates between contraindicated, major, moderate or minor interactions. RESULTS: No contraindicated combinations of medications were found but in 265 instances (66,9%) potentially relevant ( major or moderate) combinations could be detected. There was a correlation between potentially dangerous drug combinations and the number of coadministered drugs. Despite the detection of a large number of potentially troublesome combinations, no significant clinical problems were observed over at least three days of observation. CONCLUSIONS: The number of potentially relevant drug interactions represents a severe problem in drug prescribing.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the project was to document and evaluate the safety of combinations of drugs prescribed during hospitalization, producing a method of quality assurance assessment. PATIENTS/ METHODS: The medications of 396 patients already taken at home as well as the drugs given in the hospital during an acute illness were analyzed. Potential drug interactions were detected using a computerized drug-interaction checking system i.e. Micromedex CD-ROM database DRUG-REAX. This program differentiates between contraindicated, major, moderate or minor interactions. RESULTS: No contraindicated combinations of medications were found but in 265 instances (66,9%) potentially relevant ( major or moderate) combinations could be detected. There was a correlation between potentially dangerous drug combinations and the number of coadministered drugs. Despite the detection of a large number of potentially troublesome combinations, no significant clinical problems were observed over at least three days of observation. CONCLUSIONS: The number of potentially relevant drug interactions represents a severe problem in drug prescribing.
Authors: M-E Rougé Bugat; M Bourgouin; S Gérard; S Lozano; D Brechemier; P Cestac; C Cool; L Balardy Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2017 Impact factor: 4.075
Authors: R W F van Leeuwen; D H S Brundel; C Neef; T van Gelder; R H J Mathijssen; D M Burger; F G A Jansman Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2013-02-14 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Roelof W F van Leeuwen; Eleonora L Swart; Frits A Boom; Martin S Schuitenmaker; Jacqueline G Hugtenburg Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2010-12-13 Impact factor: 4.430