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Volume 5, Issue 3 (Summer 2019)
JCCNC 2019, 5(3): 183-192 |
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Dianati M, Mirbagher Ajorpaz N, Lotfi M S, Najarzadeh M. The Prevalence of Drug-Drug Interaction and Inappropriate Drug Prescription Among the Elderly in Kashan. JCCNC 2019; 5 (3) :183-192
URL: http://jccnc.iums.ac.ir/article-1-230-en.html
URL: http://jccnc.iums.ac.ir/article-1-230-en.html
1- Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
2- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Autoimmune Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
3- Iranian Research Center on Ageing, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,sajjad.lotfi@yahoo.com
4- Registration Center of Adverse Drug Reaction, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
2- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Autoimmune Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
3- Iranian Research Center on Ageing, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,
4- Registration Center of Adverse Drug Reaction, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Abstract: (2006 Views)
Background: Drug-Drug Interaction (DDI) among the elderly is one of the major healthcare challenges worldwide. The present study assessed the rates of DDI and inappropriate drug prescription among the elderly in Kashan City, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was designed, conducted, and reported according to the guideline of Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). A random sample of 368 elderly who lived in Kashan City, Iran, was selected through cluster sampling technique. Data collection tools were a demographic questionnaire and a drug checklist. The obtained data were analyzed by the Chi-squared test, logistic regression analysis, and Odds Ratio (OR) in SPSS.
Results: In total, 308 (88%) participants used at least one drug. The Mean±SD scores of daily consumed drugs and the number of inappropriate drugs taken daily by the study participants were 6.21±3.52 and 0.28±0.62, respectively. Most of the study participants were taking more than two drugs (n=267, 86.68%) and more than four drugs (n=200, 64.9%) per day. The OR of DDI among the study participants who were taking ≥2 drugs per day was 2.49 times greater than those who were taking one or two drugs (OR=2.49, 95% confidence interval=1.20-5.18). The most frequent DDIs were between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and beta-blocker agents (n=84, 18.22%) and between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nitrates (n=46, 9.9%).
Conclusion: The rate of inappropriate drug use among the elderly living in Kashan, Iran, is low, however, polypharmacy and DDIs are highly prevalent among them. To reduce the rates of DDI and polypharmacy, educational programs for different healthcare providers are required to improve their knowledge. Moreover, further studies are needed to assess the effects of polypharmacy and DDI preventive measures, like drug history cards.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was designed, conducted, and reported according to the guideline of Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). A random sample of 368 elderly who lived in Kashan City, Iran, was selected through cluster sampling technique. Data collection tools were a demographic questionnaire and a drug checklist. The obtained data were analyzed by the Chi-squared test, logistic regression analysis, and Odds Ratio (OR) in SPSS.
Results: In total, 308 (88%) participants used at least one drug. The Mean±SD scores of daily consumed drugs and the number of inappropriate drugs taken daily by the study participants were 6.21±3.52 and 0.28±0.62, respectively. Most of the study participants were taking more than two drugs (n=267, 86.68%) and more than four drugs (n=200, 64.9%) per day. The OR of DDI among the study participants who were taking ≥2 drugs per day was 2.49 times greater than those who were taking one or two drugs (OR=2.49, 95% confidence interval=1.20-5.18). The most frequent DDIs were between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and beta-blocker agents (n=84, 18.22%) and between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nitrates (n=46, 9.9%).
Conclusion: The rate of inappropriate drug use among the elderly living in Kashan, Iran, is low, however, polypharmacy and DDIs are highly prevalent among them. To reduce the rates of DDI and polypharmacy, educational programs for different healthcare providers are required to improve their knowledge. Moreover, further studies are needed to assess the effects of polypharmacy and DDI preventive measures, like drug history cards.
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• Drug-Drug Interaction (DDI) is highly prevalent among the global elderly population.
• Patients and their family members require adequate knowledge about pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drugs to prevent DDI or reduce its risk.
• The present findings highlight the necessity of running educational programs for different healthcare providers to improve their knowledge about DDI and polypharmacy.
Plain Language Summary
This study assessed the rates of inappropriate drug prescription among the elderly in Kashan City, Iran. The study findings revealed that >85% of study participants were taking at least one drug. Furthermore, the study participants were taking >6 drugs per day, on average. Prescribing inappropriate drugs for the elderly could cause them different life-threatening problems, such as drug toxicity, confusion, falls, and pulmonary aspiration.
• Patients and their family members require adequate knowledge about pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drugs to prevent DDI or reduce its risk.
• The present findings highlight the necessity of running educational programs for different healthcare providers to improve their knowledge about DDI and polypharmacy.
Plain Language Summary
This study assessed the rates of inappropriate drug prescription among the elderly in Kashan City, Iran. The study findings revealed that >85% of study participants were taking at least one drug. Furthermore, the study participants were taking >6 drugs per day, on average. Prescribing inappropriate drugs for the elderly could cause them different life-threatening problems, such as drug toxicity, confusion, falls, and pulmonary aspiration.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
General
Received: 2019/02/4 | Accepted: 2019/06/25 | Published: 2019/08/1
Received: 2019/02/4 | Accepted: 2019/06/25 | Published: 2019/08/1
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