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Adverse drug events in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis ambulatory patients
International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, 04/27/2012
Tragulpiankit P et al. – Adverse drug events (ADEs) are common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients with prevalence of 35.7%. High exposure to potentially harmful drugs might explain the higher rate of ADE in these patients.
Methods- A cross–sectional study at rheumatology clinics, was performed by random selection of RA and OA out–patients by a research pharmacist.
- All suspected ADEs occurring during the last hospital visit and the subjects were identified by retrospective chart review and direct patient interview.
- ADE characteristics, including causative drug groups, affected organ severity and patient outcomes, were recorded.
- One hundred and forty–three patients consisting of 129 RA and 14 OA were recruited.
- The patients’ mean ages were 54.3 ± 14.3 years and 121 (84.6%) patients were female.
- A total of 68 ADEs were detected in 51 patients.
- The prevalence and rate of ADE were 35.7% and 47.6 events per 100 patients, respectively.
- Thirty out of 68 ADEs (44.1%) were preventable.
- Disease–modifying anti–rheumatic drugs and non–steroidal anti–inflammatory drugs resulted in ADEs by 41 (59.4%) and 10 (14.5%) events, respectively.
- Common affected organs were skin, gastrointestinal tract and eyes which accounted for 20 (29.4%), 18 (26.5%) and eight events (11.6%), respectively.
- Continuation of the suspected drug was noted in 42 ADEs (61.8%), classified as severity level 1 and 2a–b, and 43 ADEs (63.2%) were completely or partially resolved during the study period.
