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Multiple drug exposure as a risk factor for the seriousness of adverse drug reactions
Author(s) -
MACEDO ANA FILIPA,
ALVES CARLOS,
CRAVEIRO NUNO,
MARQUES FRANCISCO BATEL
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01216.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pharmacovigilance , drug , odds ratio , risk factor , adverse drug reaction , incidence (geometry) , confidence interval , drug reaction , seriousness , intensive care medicine , emergency medicine , pharmacology , physics , political science , law , optics
macedo a.f., alves c., craveiro n. & marques f.b. (2011) Journal of Nursing Management 19, 395–399
Multiple drug exposure as a risk factor for the seriousness of adverse drug reactions Aim The aim of the present study was to validate the hypothesis that multiple drug exposure is an independent risk factor for serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Background Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are an important cause of iatrogenic disease, the majority being preventable. Multiple drug exposure, ageing and female gender have been identified as important risk factors for an increased incidence of ADRs. Method ADR reports received by the central Portugal Regional Pharmacovigilance Unit, between January 2001 and December 2009, were studied. Results Nearly half (47.4%) of ADRs reports were considered serious, from which 66.7% reported multiple drug exposure (mean 3.07 ± 2.2; maximum 13). After adjusting for gender, simultaneous exposure to three or more drugs was significantly associated with an increased risk of serious ADRs [odds ratio (OR) 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.51]. Conclusions The present results support that multiple drug exposure is an independent risk factor for serious ADRs. Such findings are of importance in both medicines benefit/risk ratio evaluations and patient safety monitoring. Implications for nursing management A new level of nursing involvement is needed in both the detection of ADRs and prevention of serious outcomes, particularly in high‐risk patients.