Monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions in Coronary Thrombosis Patients Admitted to Intensive Cardiac Care Unit in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) has been considered as a major threat to healthcare. Many studies continue to explore the incidence, causality and preventability of ADRs in different setup of healthcare so as to minimize or avoid them and to ensure better health care. The main objective of the study was to monitor, record, and analyze suspected ADRs in coronary thrombosis patients admitted to intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU). The study was conducted at tertiary care hospital for duration of six months. Patients aged more than 18 years of either gender with established diagnosis of coronary thrombosis admitted to ICCU or referred to the hospital were included in the study. During the study period, a total of 86 patients were monitored, of which 44 patients experienced ADRs which accounted for 51.16% of incidence and totally 130 ADRs were observed. Each patient on an average experienced at least 2.95 ADRs. Anti-anginals (30.76%) were one of the most common drug class implicated especially nitroglycerin (23.84%) in causing ADR like hypotension (39.23%). Cardiovascular system (CVS) [47.69%] was the most common organ system affected. Out of 44 patients with ADRs, drug was withdrawn in 33 patients and specific treatment was administered to 11 patients in view of clinical status. Full recovery was observed in 25 patients. Majority of the suspected reactions were reported to be possible (73.84%), not preventable (83.84%) and mild (79.23%) on causality, preventability and severity assessment. Higher incidence of ADRs was reported in coronary thrombosis patients admitted to ICCU. Strategies to avoid preventable ADRs will certainly minimize the hospital stay and healthcare cost.

Keywords: Adverse drug reactions; Coronary thrombosis; Causality; Severity; Preventability