Drug Related Issues in Cardio Vascular Patients: Implementation and Evaluation

Author: Katike Mohammad Umar and C. Madhavi Latha

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Abstract

Drug-related problems have a significant impact on the quality of life, mortality, and morbidity of patients. These problems can occur at any stage of the drug administration process, including prescription, transcription, distribution, and administration. To improve patient safety and treatment outcomes, it is essential to investigate the prevalence, forms, patterns, and clinical significance of drug-related issues in patients with cardiovascular conditions. In a prospective interventional study conducted over eight months in the medical and cardiology wards of a tertiary care hospital, the most frequently reported drug-related problems (DRPs) among inpatients were drug interactions, followed by untreated indications, medications without indications, sub-therapeutic dosages, and overdose. Our findings highlight the critical role of clinical pharmacists in the early detection of DRPs and the associated risk factors to prevent, evaluate, and manage adverse effects of medication use in cardiovascular patients. The study also revealed that none of the patients who participated in the survey reported significant problems with their daily activities. The research identified a total of 138 clinical pharmacist interventions, of which 101 were approved, and 37 were refused. Of these interventions, 87 were resolved, while 51 remained unsolved. In conclusion, clinical pharmacy plays a crucial role in detecting DRPs and their associated risk factors in cardiovascular patients to prevent, evaluate, and manage unfavourable drug-related outcomes.

Keywords

Adverse Drug Reaction, Clinical Pharmacist, Drug Related Problems, Drug Interaction

Conclusion

The study found that patients with cardiovascular diseases are at risk of multiple drug-related problems that can be addressed through clinical pharmacist interventions. The study analyzed the data of 264 inpatients admitted to the cardiovascular department of Government General Hospital, Kurnool, and identified a total of 1567 DRPs. Males were more affected than females. Myocardial infarction was the most commonly observed CVD, and a total of 3001 drugs were prescribed during the study period. The majority of patients stayed in the hospital for 6-10 days and were prescribed 6-10 drugs, including furosemide, metoprolol, aspirin, spironolactone, clopidogrel, atorvastatin, and telmisartan. The most common DRPs identified were drug interactions, with expected drug interactions due to cardiovascular drugs accounting for 82.7% of all interactions. Other DRPs identified were untreated indications, drug use without indication, subtherapeutic dose, and overdose. The study found that all patients had no major issues in their routine daily activities. The study proposed 138 clinical pharmacist interventions, of which 101 were accepted and 37 were rejected. Of these interventions, 87 problems were resolved, while the remaining 51 remained unresolved. The study highlights the crucial role of clinical pharmacists in identifying DRPs and their associated risk factors and in preventing, assessing, and managing undesired outcomes due to the use of drugs in cardiovascular patients.

References

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How to cite this article

Katike Mohammad Umar and C. Madhavi Latha (2023). Drug Related Issues in Cardio Vascular Patients: Implementation and Evaluation. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 569-572.