Assessment of an active pharmacovigilance system carried out by a pharmacist

Sanchez I.; Amador, C; Plaza, JC; Correa G.; Amador, R

Abstract

Background: Despite the importance of notifying and preventing adverse drug reactions (ADRs), they are under reported and their consequences are not adequately evaluated. Aim: To assess the impact of a pharmacovigilance system carried out by a pharmacist. Material and Methods: In an internal medicine service, the spontaneous report of ADRs was compared blindly with an active pharmacovigilance system in which a pharmacist detected, monitored and prevented ADRs. Results: A total of 1,196 patients was included. Of these 604 were hospitalized in intervened wards, where 50 suspected ADR's in 47 patients were reported. In non-intervened wards, only three ADRs were spontaneously reported. Therefore, the pharmacovigilance system significantly improved the detection and report of ADRs with a risk ratio of 15.4 (95% confidence intervals 4.8-49.1). Sixty six percent of ADRs were classified as severe. Antimicrobials were the main group of medications causing ADRs in 44% of reports. Forty three percent of ADRs were preventable and prolonged hospital stay by a mean of eight days. Conclusions: An active pharmacovigilance system carried out by pharmacists improves the detection of ADRs and promotes its prevention.

Más información

Título según WOS: Assessment of an active pharmacovigilance system carried out by a pharmacist
Título de la Revista: REVISTA MEDICA DE CHILE
Volumen: 142
Número: 8
Editorial: SOC MEDICA SANTIAGO
Fecha de publicación: 2014
Página de inicio: 998
Página final: 1005
Idioma: Spanish
Notas: ISI