Abstract
Aim:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are treated with several drugs for their primary disease and comorbidity, which carries the risk of clinically relevant drug-drug interactions (DDIs). We aimed to evaluate DDI in hospitalized COPD patients.
Methods:
This retrospective study included COPD patients hospitalized from January 2011 to July 2011 in a tertiary care clinic. Pharmacological therapy at admission and discharge was evaluated for DDI with electronic Lexi-Comp database: C- monitor therapy; D- consider therapy modification; X- avoid combination.
Results:
We included 196 patients (68% male, age 71 ±9 years). The average number of prescribed drugs was significantly lower at hospital admission than at discharge (6 ±3 vs. 7 ±2, p<0.01). Overall, more than 90% of patients had at least one interaction and Table 1 summarizes type C, D, and X interactions at hospital admission and discharge. The most prevalent type C interaction was between two β2-agonists (10% of cases) and the most prevalent type D interaction between β-blocker and α-blocker (9%). There were 15 type X interactions recorded at discharge, among which the most common was between non selective β-blocker and β2-adrenoreceptor agonist (8 cases)
Conclusion:
DDI are common in hospitalized patients with COPD but few carry clinically relevant risk. Most type X interactions were between non-selective β-blocker and β2-adrenoreceptor agonist which likely was indicated and should be safe in COPD patients.
- © 2012 ERS