Drug-Related Problems and Hospital Admissions in Cardiac Transplant Recipients

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 1299-1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin L Repp ◽  
Charles Hayes ◽  
T Mark Woods ◽  
Keith B Allen ◽  
Kevin Kennedy ◽  
...  

Background: Drug-related problems (DRPs) in the general population account for 15% of all hospital admissions, of which approximately 30% are preventable. Cardiac transplant patients may be at increased risk for DRPs because of their complicated medication regimens that include drugs with a narrow therapeutic index. Objective: To determine the incidence and praventability of DRPs causing hospital admission in cardiac transplant patients at a single institution. Methods: Between November 2009 and January 2010, a prospective longitudinal study investigated the incidence and preventability of DRPs in a single cardiac transplant center. Three independent reviewers used validated scoring systems to determine the incidence and preventability of drug-related hospital admissions. DRPs were classified by type, pharmacologic class, and impact on length of stay. Results: During the 3-month study period, 48 cardiac transplant patients were hospitalized. DRPs accounted for 40% (19/48) of these admissions and 58% (11/19) were adjudicated to be preventable. Common DRPs included supratherapeutic (32%) and subtherapeutic (16%) dosage, adverse drug reaction (32%), drug interaction (5%), and nonadherence (5%). Pharmacologic classes implicated included immunosuppressant (63%), antimicrobial (11%), electrolyte/fluid (11%). and anticoagulant (5%). Average length of stay in drug-related compared to non-drug-related admissions was 11.4 versus 8.5 days (p = 0.458). When annualized, 44 hospitalizations or 500 hospital days may have been prevented. Conclusions: Hospital admissions following cardiac transplantation are often drug related (40%) and preventable (58%). Incorporating this insight into the multidisciplinary transplant team may improve outcomes, assist in meeting national quality mandates by the United Network for Organ Sharing and Centers for Medicare Services, and lead to new benchmarks for transplant centers.

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e024377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramon D Leopoldino ◽  
Marco T Santos ◽  
Tatiana X Costa ◽  
Rand R Martins ◽  
António G Oliveira

ObjectiveTo identify patient factors and medications associated with the occurrence of drug-related problems (DRPs) in neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).DesignProspective, longitudinal study.SettingNICU of a teaching hospital in Brazil.ParticipantsData were collected from the records of the clinical pharmacy service of all neonates admitted between April 2014 and January 2017, excluding neonates with length of stay in the NICU <24 hours or without prescribed drugs.Primary outcome measuresOccurrence of one or more DRP (conditions interfering in the patient’s pharmacotherapy with potential undesired clinical outcomes).ResultsThe study observed 600 neonates who had a median length of stay in the NICU of 13 days (range 2–278 days). DRPs were identified in most neonates (60.5%). In a multivariate logistic regression model, the factors independently associated with DRP were gestational age (adjusted OR (AOR) 0.85, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.89), 5 min Apgar <7 (AOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.00 to 3.13), neurological disease (AOR 2.49, 95% CI 1.09 to 5.69), renal disease (AOR 5.75, 95% CI 1.85 to 17.8) and cardiac disease (AOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.31 to 4.24). The medications with greater risk for DRP were amphotericin B (AOR 4.80), meropenem (AOR 4.09), alprostadil (AOR 3.38), vancomycin (AOR 3.34), ciprofloxacin (AOR 3.03), gentamicin (AOR 2.43), cefepime (AOR 1.88), amikacin (AOR 1.82) and omeprazole (AOR 1.66). These medicines represented one-third of all prescribed drugs.ConclusionsGestational age, 5 min Apgar <7, and neurological, cardiac and renal diseases are risk factors for DRP in NICUs. Alprostadil, omeprazole and several anti-infectives were associated with greater risk of DRP.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Sze ◽  
P Pellicori ◽  
J Zhang ◽  
J Weston ◽  
A.L Clark

Abstract Background Frailty is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the causes of hospitalisations and death in frail patients might help to tailor interventional strategies for these at-risk patients. Purpose We studied the cause of death and hospitalisations in ambulatory patients with HF and frailty. Methods We assessed frailty using the clinical frailty scale (CFS) in consecutive HF patients attending a routine follow-up visit. Those with CFS ≥5 were classified as frail. Mortality and hospitalisations were ascertained from medical records (updated systematically using an NHS electronic database), discharge letters, autopsy reports and death certificates. We studied the primary cause of death and hospitalisations within one year of enrolment. Results 467 patients (67% male, median (IQR) age 76 (69–82) years, median (IQR) NT-proBNP 1156 (469–2463) ng/L) were enrolled. 206 (44%) patients were frail. Frail patients were more likely to not receive or receive suboptimal doses of ACEi/ARB and Beta-blockers; while non-frail patients were more likely to be treated with optimal doses. At 1-year follow up, there were 56 deaths and 322 hospitalisations, of which 46 (82%) and 215 (67%) occurred in frail patients. Frailty was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR (95% CI): 4.27 (2.60–7.01)) and combined mortality/ hospitalisation (HR (95% CI): 2.85 (2.14–3.80)), all p&lt;0.001. 57% (n=26) of frail patients died of cardiovascular causes (of which 58% were due to HF progression); although deaths due to non-cardiovascular causes (43%, n=20), especially severe infections, were also common (26%, n=12). (Figure 1) The proportion of frail patients who had non-elective hospital admissions within 1 year was more than double that of non-frail patients (46% (n=96) vs 21% (n=54); p&lt;0.001). Compared to non-frail patients, frail patients had more recurrent (≥2) hospitalisations (28% (n=59) vs 9% (n=24); p&lt;0.001) but median (IQR) average length of hospital stay was not significantly different (frail: 6 (4–11) vs non-frail: 6 (2–12) days, p=0.50). A large proportion of hospitalisations (64%, n=137) in frail patients were due to non-cardiovascular causes (of which 34%, 30% and 20% were due to infections, falls and comorbidities respectively). Of cardiovascular hospitalisations (36%, n=78), the majority were due to decompensated HF (67%, n=46). (Figure 1) Conclusion Frailty is common in patients with HF and is associated with an increased risk of mortality and recurrent hospitalisations. A significant proportion suffered non-cardiovascular deaths and hospitalisations. This implies that interventions targeted at HF alone can only have limited impact on outcomes in frail patients. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


Author(s):  
Andrea H Weinberger ◽  
Jiaqi Zhu ◽  
Joun Lee ◽  
Shu Xu ◽  
Renee D Goodwin

Abstract Introduction Cigarette use is declining among youth in the United States, whereas cannabis use and e-cigarette use are increasing. Cannabis use has been linked with increased uptake and persistence of cigarette smoking among adults. The goal of this study was to examine whether cannabis use is associated with the prevalence and incidence of cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual product use among U.S. youth. Methods Data included U.S. youth ages 12–17 from two waves of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study (Wave 1 youth, n = 13 651; Wave 1 tobacco-naive youth, n = 10 081). Weighted logistic regression models were used to examine the association between Wave 1 cannabis use and (1) Wave 1 prevalence of cigarette/e-cigarette use among Wave 1 youth and (2) Wave 2 incidence of cigarette/e-cigarette use among Wave 1 tobacco-naive youth. Analyses were run unadjusted and adjusted for demographics and internalizing/externalizing problem symptoms. Results Wave 1 cigarette and e-cigarette use were significantly more common among youth who used versus did not use cannabis. Among Wave 1 tobacco-naive youth, Wave 1 cannabis use was associated with significantly increased incidence of cigarette and e-cigarette use by Wave 2. Conclusions Youth who use cannabis are more likely to report cigarette and e-cigarette use, and cannabis use is associated with increased risk of initiation of cigarette and e-cigarette use over 1 year. Continued success in tobacco control—specifically toward reducing smoking among adolescents—may require focusing on cannabis, e-cigarette, and cigarette use in public health education, outreach, and intervention efforts. Implications These data extend our knowledge of cigarette and e-cigarette use among youth by showing that cannabis use is associated with increased prevalence and incidence of cigarette and e-cigarette use among youth, relative to youth who do not use cannabis. The increasing popularity of cannabis use among youth and diminished perceptions of risk, coupled with the strong link between cannabis use and tobacco use, may have unintended consequences for cigarette control efforts among youth.


1962 ◽  
Vol 108 (452) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Barr ◽  
D. Golding ◽  
R. W. Parnell

The statistics on mental hospitals published by the Ministry of Health (1957) show that the average length of stay for admissions to mental hospitals decreased in the period 1952–1956. According to the Registrar-General's Mental Health Supplement (1961) there was an average saving, between 1951 and 1958, of sixteen days for men and thirteen days for women, among patients staying less than one year. But these figures for stay only relate to the patients discharged each year, irrespective of the year of their admission, and furthermore we do not know what happens to particular groups such, for example, as schizophrenics. Although remarkable changes are occurring at the present time, study of them is hampered by lack of appropriate and up-to-date information.


2002 ◽  
pp. 59-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
CW le Roux ◽  
PJ Jenkins ◽  
SL Chew ◽  
C Camacho-Hubner ◽  
AB Grossman ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiological studies have shown an increased risk for prostate carcinoma in men with serum IGF-I in the upper part of the age-related reference range. Recombinant human GH (rhGH) is widely used in patients with GH deficiency, usually raising the serum IGF-I levels into the normal range: safety surveillance is therefore mandatory, with particular regard to neoplasia. The aim was to examine whether rhGH replacement in hypopituitary adults is associated with changes in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a surrogate marker of changes in prostatic growth. DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was used with a median follow-up of 22 (range 2.5-32) months, in which 41 men aged over 50 years with adult onset hypopituitarism and GH deficiency during rhGH replacement were examined. Serum PSA and IGF-I were measured at baseline and at latest follow-up. RESULTS: Mean serum PSA remained unchanged during rhGH replacement, with a median follow-up of 2 years. No correlation was found between the individual changes in serum IGF-I and changes in serum PSA. CONCLUSIONS: These data are reassuring thus far regarding the safety of GH replacement in relation to the prostate in this patient group.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Sokooti Oskooei ◽  
Sok Cin Tye ◽  
Rianne M. Douwes ◽  
Hiddo Lambers Heerspink ◽  
Stephan Bakker

Abstract Background and Aims Posttransplantation diabetes Mellitus (PTDM) is one of the major medical problems in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Diuretic-induced hyperglycemia and diabetes have been described in the general population. We aimed to investigate whether diuretics also increase PTDM risk in RTRs. Method We included 486 stable outpatient RTRs (with a functioning graft ≥1 year) without diabetes from a prospective longitudinal study (the Transplantlines Food and Nutrition Study [NCT02811835]). Participants were classified as diuretic users and non-diuretic users based on their medication use recording at baseline. PTDM was defined according the American Diabetes Association’s diagnostic criteria for diabetes. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses were performed to assess the prospective association between diuretic use and the risk of PTDM development. Results Median time since transplantation was 5.4 (2.0-12.2) years and 168 (35%) RTRs were taking diuretics. After 5.2 (IQR, 4.0 5.9) years of follow up, 54 (11%) RTRs developed PTDM. In Kaplan-Meier (log-rank test, p&lt;0.001) and Cox regression analyses, diuretic use was found to be associated with incident PTDM after adjustment for age, sex, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and HbA1c (hazard ratio[HR] 3.28, 95% CI 1.84-5.83; p&lt;0.001). The association remained independent of further adjustment for potential confounders, including lifestyle, use of other medication, kidney function, transplantation-specific parameters, BMI, lipids, and blood pressure. Exploratory analyses further indicates that, in Cox regression analyses, both thiazide (n=74) and loop diuretics (n=76) as two main types of diuretics used among RTRs appeared to be associated with the development of PTDM, independent of age, sex, FPG, and HbA1c ([HR 2.70, 95% CI 1.24-5.29; p=0.012], and [HR 5.08, 95% CI 2.49-10.34; p&lt;0.001], respectively). Conclusion This study demonstrates that diuretics overall, associated with the risk of developing PTDM in RTRs, independent of established risk factors for PTDM development. The association was consistent for thiazide and loop diuretics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 976-980
Author(s):  
Kathleen E Singer ◽  
Jalen A Harvey ◽  
Victor Heh ◽  
Elizabeth L Dale

Abstract The Boston Criteria and the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index are two widely accepted models for predicting mortality in burn patients. We aimed to elucidate whether these models are able to predict the risk of mortality in patients who sustain burns while smoking on home oxygen given their clinical fragility. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 48 patients admitted to our burn center from November 2013 to September 2017 who sustained a burn while smoking on home oxygen. Yearlong mortality was the primary outcome of the investigation; secondary outcomes included discharge to facility, length of stay, and need for tracheostomy. We calculated the expected mortality rate for each patient based on Boston Criteria and Abbreviated Burn Severity Index and compared the mortality rate observed in our cohort. Patients in our cohort suffered a 54% mortality rate within a year of injury, compared to a 23.5% mortality predicted by Boston Criteria, which was found to be statistically significant by chi-square analysis (P &lt; .05). Abbreviated Burn Severity Index predicted mortality was 19.7%. While the absolute value of the difference in mortality was greater, this was not significant on chi-square analysis due to sample size. Our secondary outcomes revealed 42% discharge to facility, the average length of stay of 6.2 days, and 6.25% required tracheostomy. Patients whose burns are attributable to smoking on home oxygen may have an increased risk of mortality than prognostication models would suggest. This bears significant clinical impact, particularly regarding family and provider decision making in pursuing aggressive management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (17) ◽  
pp. 1876-1886
Author(s):  
Giulia Stronati ◽  
Lucia Manfredi ◽  
Alessia Ferrarini ◽  
Lucia Zuliani ◽  
Marco Fogante ◽  
...  

Aims Cardiac involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is frequent and represents a negative prognostic factor. Recent studies have described subclinical heart involvement of both the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) via speckle-tracking-derived global longitudinal strain (GLS). It is currently unknown if SSc-related cardiomyopathy progresses through time. Our aim was to assess the progression of subclinical cardiac involvement in patients with SSc via speckle-tracking-derived GLS. Methods This was a prospective longitudinal study enrolling 72 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of SSc and no structural heart disease nor pulmonary hypertension. A standard echocardiographic exam and GLS calculations were performed at baseline and at follow-up. Results Traditional echocardiographic parameters did not differ from baseline to 20-month follow-up. LV GLS, despite being already impaired at baseline, worsened significantly during follow-up (from –19.8 ± 3.5% to –18.7 ± 3.5%, p = .034). RV GLS impairment progressed through the follow-up period (from –20.9 ± 6.1% to –18.7 ± 5.4%, p = .013). The impairment was more pronounced for the endocardial layers of both LV (from –22.5 ± 3.9% to –21.4 ± 3.9%, p = .041) and RV (–24.2 ± 6.2% to –20.6 ± 5.9%, p = .001). A 1% worsening in RV GLS was associated with an 18% increased risk of all-cause death or major cardiovascular event ( p = .03) and with a 55% increased risk of pulmonary hypertension ( p = .043). Conclusion SSC-related cardiomyopathy progresses over time and can be detected by speckle-tracking GLS. The highest progression towards reduced deformation was registered for the endocardial layers, which supports the hypothesis that microvascular dysfunction is the main determinant of heart involvement in SSc patients and starts well before overt pulmonary hypertension.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. 1508-1512
Author(s):  
Mariana Kumaira Fonseca ◽  
Eduardo N. Trindade ◽  
Omero P. Costa Filho ◽  
Miguel P. Nácul ◽  
Artur P. Seabra

Background The global crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic has imposed a large burden on health systems worldwide. Nonetheless, acute abdominal surgical emergencies are major causes for nontrauma-related hospital admissions and their incidences were expected to remain unchanged. Surprisingly, a significant decrease in volume and a higher proportion of complicated cases are being observed worldwide. Methods The present study assesses the local impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the emergency presentation of acute appendicitis in a Brazilian hospital. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients undergoing emergency surgery for the clinically suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis during the 2-month period of March and April 2020 and the same time interval in the previous year. Data on demographics, timing of symptom onset and hospital presentation, intraoperative details, postoperative complications, hospital length of stay, and histological examination of the specimen were retrieved from individual registries. Results The number of appendectomies during the pandemic was 36, which represents a 56% reduction compared to the 82 patients operated during the same period in 2019. The average time of symptom onset to hospital arrival was significantly higher in 2020 (40.6 vs. 28.2 hours, P = .02). The classification of appendicitis revealed a significant higher proportion of complicated cases than the previous year (33.3% vs. 15.2%, P = .04). The rate of postoperative complications and the average length of stay were not statistically different between the groups. Conclusion Further assessment of patients’ concerns and systematic monitoring of emergency presentations are expected to help us understand and adequately address this issue.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document