Potential Drug-Drug Interactions Associated with Prolonged Stays in the Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study

• Published in: Clinical drug investigation 2011-01, Vol.31 (5), p.309-316
• Main Authors: Moura, Cristiano, Prado, Nília, Acurcio, Francisco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Research Article; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacotherapy
• ISSN: 1173-2563; 1179-1918
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03256929

Background and Objectives: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are one cause of adverse drug events and can cause harm to hospitalized patients. Little has been done to study the relationship between potential DDIs and an increased length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of potential DDIs during ICU stays and to determine whether the frequency of these adverse events was associated with ICU LOS. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted from January to December 2007 in the ICU of the General Hospital of Vitória da Conquista, Brazil. The study population comprised all patients aged >18 years admitted to the hospital’s ICU. Demographic and prescription data were collected from medical files. All prescriptions administered during the period were examined. Potential DDIs were identified and classified according to the book Drug Interaction Facts . The median LOS was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to analyse the relationship between potential DDIs and the LOS. Results: The study population comprised 236 adults, 158 (67%) of them men, between the ages of 18 and 96 years, with a mean ± SD age of 50 ± 20 years. The median LOS among patients with at least one DDI was 12 days compared with 5 days among those with no DDIs (p