Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics
Open Access

Abstract

Knowledge and identification of Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) or Drug Related Problems (DRPs) help to adopt appropriate measures to prevent and treat them. Present study aimed to determine prevalence of ADEs reporting to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Emergency Department (ED) of King Fahd Hospital of the University, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. Files of cases suspected to have Drug Related Problem (DRP) reporting to ICU and ED in year 2012 were sorted out. Suspicion was made from related code numbers in the hospital record system and from triggers pointing to ADEs, like relevant signs and symptoms, laboratory tests and drugs. Out of 247 admissions in ICU 35 (14.2%) had trivial to sever ADEs, including 7 (2.8%) deaths. Drugs commonly involved were warfarin, heparin, aspirin, digoxin, diuretics, phenytoin, carbamazepine and benzodiazepines. In the case of ED, out of 5574 admissions 253 (4.5%) had DRPs, which were categorized as: Overdose toxicity and side effects of drugs 50 (19.8%), drug-drug interactions 29 (11.5%), accidental and suicidal drug ingestions 26 (10.3%), drug abuse 18 (7.1 %), drug allergy 10 (4 %), super-infections 8 (3.2%) and last but not the least, non-compliance to treatment 112 (44.3%). Almost 50 (19.8%) of DRPs were preventable, while 67 (26.5%) were of serious nature and required admission in the hospital for 7 to 102 days and 10 (4%) died, unfortunately. It is hoped that the study will be a source of awareness of the DRPs and would help to improve the patient care in our set up.

Biography

Mohammad Akram Randhawa is a medical graduate from King Edward Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan; completed his Ph.D. from Quaid-e- Azam University Islamabad and had postgraduate fellowship from Clinical Pharmacology Unit of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK. He was Professor of Pharmacology at the College of Medicine, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Recently, he has been appointed at the Center for Research and Consultation Studies, University of Dammam. He has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals, made original contributions in research and presented his research work in a number of international scientific conferences.