João Paulo Ramalho Correia1, Alanna Carla da Costa1,2, Eduardo Arrais Rocha3, Ana Rosa Pinto Quidute3, Darlan da Silva Cândido4, Ângela Maria de Souza Ponciano5, Marta Maria de França Fonteles2,5, Maria de Fátima Oliveira1,2. 1. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Doença de Chagas, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil. 2. Programa de Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil. 3. Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil. 4. Programa de Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu em Alergia e Imunopatologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. 5. Departamento de Farmácia, Centro de Estudos em Atenção Farmacêutica, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Benznidazole (BNZ) is a drug available for the etiological treatment of Chagas disease. However, this drug is toxic and has a limited effectiveness on the chronic phase of this disease, often leading to poor treatment adherence. METHODS: : This is a descriptive and exploratory study conducted at the Pharmaceutical Care Service for Chagas disease patients of the Federal University of Ceará. Drug-related problems (DRPs) and pharmaceutical interventions (PIs) were classified according to the Second Consensus of Granada. RESULTS: : The average age of patients with Chagas disease was 62 years, with the majority residing in the Ceará countryside (86.7%), and having low education levels (63.3% with elementary school education). Regarding family income, most patients belonged to a household that earned ≤1-2 times the minimum wage per month. Approximately 73% of these patients complied with the BNZ treatment, and nearly 7% underwent therapy interruption after medical evaluation. A total of 189 DRPs were identified, of which 51.9% (n=98) were classified as potential, and 48.1% (n=91) as actual. The most frequent DRPs were related to safety (qualitative safety; n=70; 37%), necessity (non-adherence; n=52; 27.5%), and effectiveness (qualitative effectiveness/non-optimal drug selection; n=45; 23.8%). Among the 216 PIs conducted, the majority were related to patient education (n=168; 77.8%) and pharmacological strategy (n=42; 19.4%). CONCLUSIONS: : This study indicates the need for pharmacotherapeutic monitoring in patients with Chagas because of the high number of therapeutic interventions, DRPs (approximately 3 DRPs/patient), BNZ adherence, and polypharmacy.
INTRODUCTION:Benznidazole (BNZ) is a drug available for the etiological treatment of Chagas disease. However, this drug is toxic and has a limited effectiveness on the chronic phase of this disease, often leading to poor treatment adherence. METHODS: : This is a descriptive and exploratory study conducted at the Pharmaceutical Care Service for Chagas diseasepatients of the Federal University of Ceará. Drug-related problems (DRPs) and pharmaceutical interventions (PIs) were classified according to the Second Consensus of Granada. RESULTS: : The average age of patients with Chagas disease was 62 years, with the majority residing in the Ceará countryside (86.7%), and having low education levels (63.3% with elementary school education). Regarding family income, most patients belonged to a household that earned ≤1-2 times the minimum wage per month. Approximately 73% of these patients complied with the BNZ treatment, and nearly 7% underwent therapy interruption after medical evaluation. A total of 189 DRPs were identified, of which 51.9% (n=98) were classified as potential, and 48.1% (n=91) as actual. The most frequent DRPs were related to safety (qualitative safety; n=70; 37%), necessity (non-adherence; n=52; 27.5%), and effectiveness (qualitative effectiveness/non-optimal drug selection; n=45; 23.8%). Among the 216 PIs conducted, the majority were related to patient education (n=168; 77.8%) and pharmacological strategy (n=42; 19.4%). CONCLUSIONS: : This study indicates the need for pharmacotherapeutic monitoring in patients with Chagas because of the high number of therapeutic interventions, DRPs (approximately 3 DRPs/patient), BNZ adherence, and polypharmacy.