Drug-related hospitalizations - insights from the Czech Republic.

Abstract

Drug-related hospitalizations - insights from the Czech Republic Background and objective: Drug-related hospitalizations represent a significant burden on healthcare. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of drug-related hospitalizations and identify medications and clinical manifestations associated with drug-related hospitalizations in patients admitted to hospital through the emergency department.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined unplanned hospitalizations at the University Hospital Hradec Kralove through the Department of Emergency Medicine between August and November 2018. Data were obtained from electronic health records. The methodology for identifying drug-related hospitalizations was based on the guideline of the European project OPERAM. This article focuses on a subgroup of drug-related problems related to the medication safety.

Results: Of the total 1252 hospitalizations analyzed, 145 cases were identified as drug-related. The prevalence of drug-related hospitalizations was 12% (95% confidence interval 10-13). In 62% of cases, medications only contributed to the cause of hospitalization. Antithrombotics, cytostatics, diuretics, and systemic corticosteroids were the most common medication classes leading to drug-related hospitalizations. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common cause of drug-related hospitalizations. The potential preventability of drug-related hospitalizations was 34%.

Conclusion: Drug-related hospitalizations remain relatively common, while some of them could be potentially prevented. Pharmacists can contribute to enhancing patient safety by detecting drug-related problems and proposing measures to minimize risks.