Lalagkas PN, Poulentzas G, Tsiolis L, Berberoglou E, Hadjipavlou-Litina D, Douros A, Kontogiorgis C, Constantinides T. Investigating Potential Drug-Drug Interactions from Greek e-Prescription Data.
Curr Drug Saf 2021;
17:114-120. [PMID:
34397333 DOI:
10.2174/1574886316666210816115811]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) is indicative of the prevalence of actual drug-drug interactions and prescription quality. However, they are significantly understudied in Greece.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of pDDIs among outpatients and identify factors associated with their occurrence.
METHODS
Anonymous e-prescription data between 2012 and 2017 were obtained from community pharmacies in Thessaloniki, Greece. Patients taking more than one medication for at least three months were included. pDDIs were identified and categorized depending on their clinical significance using Drug Interactions Checker. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of risk factors of pDDIs occurrence were identified using multivariable logistic regression.
RESULTS
During the study period, 6,000 anonymous e-prescriptions (1,000 per year) satisfying the inclusion criteria, were collected. The overall prevalence of major pDDIs was 17.4% (63.0% for moderate pDDIs). The most common major pDDIs were between amlodipine and simvastatin (22.8% of major interactions) followed by clopidogrel and omeprazole (6.4% of major interactions). Polypharmacy (≥5 concomitantly received medications) was associated with an increased risk of major pDDIs (adjusted OR, 5.72; 95% CI, 4.87-6.72); no associations were observed regarding age, sex and number of prescribing physicians.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of pDDIs in this study was higher than previously reported in other European countries, with polypharmacy being a potential risk factor. Those results argue for a need for improvement in the area of prescribing in Greece.
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