» Articles » PMID: 26689834

Prevalence of Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits at a Teaching Hospital in Malaysia

Overview
Date 2015 Dec 23
PMID 26689834
Citations 16
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Background: Data on the prevalence of adverse drug event (ADE)-related emergency department (ED) visits in developing countries are limited. Malaysia is located in South-East Asia, and, to our knowledge, no information exists on ADE-related ED visits.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, preventability, severity, and outcome of drug-related ED visits.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in consenting patients who visited the ED of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia over a 6-week period. The ED physician on duty determined whether or not the visit was drug related according to set criteria. Other relevant information was extracted from the patient's medical folder by a clinical pharmacist.

Results: Of the 434 consenting patients, 133 (30.6 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 26-35 %) visits were determined to be ADE related; 55.5 % were considered preventable, 11.3 % possibly preventable, and 33.1 % not preventable. Severity was classed as mild in 1.5 %, moderate in 67.7 %, and severe in 30.8 %. The most common ADEs reported were drug therapeutic failure (55.6 %) and adverse drug reactions (32.3 %). The most frequently implicated drugs were antidiabetics ( = 31; 23.3 %), antihypertensives ( = 28; 21.1 %), antibiotics ( = 13; 9.8 %), and anti-asthmatics ( = 11; 8.3 %). A total of 93 patients (69.9 %) were admitted to the ED for observation, 25 (18.8 %) were discharged immediately after consultation, and 15 (11.3 %) were admitted to the ward through the ED.

Conclusion: The prevalence of ADE-related ED visits was high; more than one-half of the events were considered preventable and one-third was classed as severe. As such, preventive measures will minimize future occurrences and increase patient safety.

Citing Articles

Medication-Related Hospital Admission Among Patients Admitted to the Emergency Ward at the University of Gondar, North West Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study.

Gebremariam S, Sema F, Jara A, Mekonnen G Drug Healthc Patient Saf. 2024; 16:75-88.

PMID: 39050408 PMC: 11268659. DOI: 10.2147/DHPS.S455990.


Methicillin-resistant -associated empyema necessitans in a child: A case report and a literature review.

Habachi G, Sahli S, Ammar S, Aziza B, Jouini R Qatar Med J. 2024; 2024(3):27.

PMID: 38974773 PMC: 11227248. DOI: 10.5339/qmj.2024.27.


Clinical pharmacist interventions in an intensive care unit reduces ICU mortality at a tertiary hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Alsayed H, Saheb Sharif-Askari F, Sharif-Askari N, Halwani R Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2024; 14:100431.

PMID: 38533449 PMC: 10963309. DOI: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2024.100431.


Assessment of clinical pharmacist interventions using a web-based application in a Saudi Arabian Tertiary Hospital.

AlKhanbashi R, AlNoamy Y, Ghandorah R, Awan R, AlButi H SAGE Open Med. 2024; 12:20503121241233217.

PMID: 38410373 PMC: 10896045. DOI: 10.1177/20503121241233217.


Evaluation of Pharmacy-Led Post-Discharge Follow-Up on Transitional Care Management in a Tertiary Academic Hospital: An Observational Study.

Althagafi A, Alshibani M, Alshehri S, Alqarni A, Baharith M, Alqurashi S Cureus. 2023; 15(8):e43477.

PMID: 37711919 PMC: 10499055. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43477.


References
1.
Olshaker J, Barish R, Naradzay J, Jerrard D, Safir E, Campbell L . Prescription noncompliance: contribution to emergency department visits and cost. J Emerg Med. 1999; 17(5):909-12. DOI: 10.1016/s0736-4679(99)00109-2. View

2.
Tafreshi M, Melby M, Kaback K, Nord T . Medication-related visits to the emergency department: a prospective study. Ann Pharmacother. 2000; 33(12):1252-7. DOI: 10.1345/aph.19062. View

3.
Drici M, Clement N . Is gender a risk factor for adverse drug reactions? The example of drug-induced long QT syndrome. Drug Saf. 2001; 24(8):575-85. DOI: 10.2165/00002018-200124080-00002. View

4.
Malhotra S, Karan R, Pandhi P, Jain S . Drug related medical emergencies in the elderly: role of adverse drug reactions and non-compliance. Postgrad Med J. 2001; 77(913):703-7. PMC: 1742171. DOI: 10.1136/pmj.77.913.703. View

5.
Winterstein A, Sauer B, Hepler C, Poole C . Preventable drug-related hospital admissions. Ann Pharmacother. 2002; 36(7-8):1238-48. DOI: 10.1345/aph.1A225. View