The Importance of Direct Patient Reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions in the Safety Monitoring Process

All medicinal products authorized in the European Union are subjects of constant drug-safety monitoring processes. It is organized in a pharmacovigilance system that is designed to protect human health and life by the detection, analysis and prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and other drug-related problems. The main role of the aforementioned system is to collect and analyze adverse drug reaction reports. Legislation introduced several years ago allowed patients, their legal representatives and caregivers to report adverse drug reactions, which caused them to be an additional source of safety data. This paper presents the analysis of EudraVigilance data related to adverse drug reactions provided by patients, their representatives, as well as those obtained from healthcare professionals related to medicines which belong to M01A anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic products, a non-steroid group. The objective of the study was to identify the changes in the number and structure of adverse reaction reporting after the introduction of pharmacovigilance (PV) obligations in EU. A review of scientific literature was also conducted to assess the differences in adverse reactions reported by patients or their representatives and by healthcare professionals. We also identified other factors which, according to literature review, influenced the number of adverse reaction reports provided by patients. Analysis of data collected from the EudraVigilance showed that from 2011 to 2013 the number of reports made by patients and their caregivers increased by approx. 24 percentage points, and then, from 2014, it constituted around 30% of the total of reported reactions every year, so patient reporting is an important part of pharmacovigilance system and a source of drugs’ safety information throughout their use in healthcare practice. Additionally, there was no interrelationship between the seriousness of reported adverse reactions and the overall number of patient reports when compared to reports form healthcare professionals.

Improving Pharmacovigilliance Quality Management System in the Pharmacy and Poisions Board of Kenya

The purpose of this study was to explore ways of improving the pharmacovigilance quality system employed by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya employs a hybrid system of pharmacovigilance that utilizes an online system of reporting pharmacovigilance incidences and a physical system, where a yellow book is physically filled by the healthcare worker and sent to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board for onward processing. This system, even though it has been relatively effective compared to other systems employed in Africa, has one major flaw. It is a slow and delayed system that captures the data much later after the fact and the agency will always be behind the curve in controlling the adverse incidents and events. This means that the incidences might continue to arise or go out of control. This project attempts to develop a system that would be more proactive in the collection of pharmacovigilance data and more predictive of pharmacovigilance incidences. The pharmacovigilance system should have the capacity to detect and analyze subtle changes in reporting frequencies and in patterns of clinical symptoms and signs that are reported as suspected adverse drug reactions. The method involved carrying out a thorough literature review of the latest trends in pharmacovigilance employed by different regulatory agencies across the world, especially the more stringent regulatory authorities. A review of the system employed by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya was also done. Pharmacovigilance data, both primary and secondary, were collected and reviewed. Media reports on adverse drug reactions and poor-quality medicines over the period were also collected and reviewed. An appropriate predictive pharmacovigilance tool was also researched and identified. It was found that the Pharmacy and Poisons Board had a robust system of collecting historical pharmacovigilance data both from the healthcare workers and the general public. However, a more responsive data collection and evaluation system is proposed that will help the agency achieve its pharmacovigilance objectives. On analysis of the data it was found that just above half of all the product complaints, about 55%, involved poor quality medicines; 15% poor performance, 13% presentation, 8% adverse drug reactions, 7% market authorization, 2% expired drugs and 1% adulteration complaints. A regulatory pharmacovigilance prioritization tool was identified, employing a risk impact analysis was proposed for regulatory action.

Parsonage–Turner syndrome following coronavirus disease 2019 immunization with ChAdOx1-S vaccine: a case report and review of the literature

Background Parsonage–Turner syndrome is an acute peripheral neuropathy that affects the upper brachial plexus region. Previously published reports demonstrate that the condition can be triggered by surgery, infection, autoimmune diseases, strenuous exercise, trauma, radiation, and vaccination. Parsonage–Turner syndrome has already been reported in three other patients who were vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019. Case presentation We report the case of a 51-year-old Caucasian man without comorbidities who received the first dose of the ChAdOx1-S recombinant vaccine (Vaxzevria, AstraZeneca, Oxford, UK) against coronavirus disease 2019 and was diagnosed with Parsonage–Turner syndrome. A few days after getting vaccinated, the patient reported a progressive increase in pain in the region of vaccine administration. One month later, the shoulder pain was followed by symptoms of hypoesthesia and muscle weakness on abduction and elevation of the left upper limb. Neurological examination revealed an atrophy of the proximal muscles of the left upper limb, accompanied by paresis of the left deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and infraspinatus muscles. Electroneuromyography carried out 3 months after the onset of symptoms showed signs consistent with brachial plexus neuritis. The adverse reaction has been properly reported to the Italian Pharmacovigilance System (Italian Medicines Agency—Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco. Conclusion The increased awareness of such association is essential for early identification and diagnosis and, thus, better clinical outcomes.

Pharmacovigilance in Pakistan: A Peek into the Future Prospects

The dire need for drug monitoring and surveillance principles are practices governing the safety profiles of the medicines arose following the 1960’s Thalidomide disaster that resulted in phocomelia in thousands of new born babies [1]. Since then Pharmacovigilance centers have been established in the member countries, which report all the untoward drug reactions to Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) that is designated to perform further investigations and global dissemination of the necessary information [2]. Currently 134 countries that are collaborating with UMC of which 96% are developed while 27% are developing countries which are lagging behind as per the unavailability of infrastructure and resources [3]. Pakistan National Pharmacovigilance Centre (PNPC) Ministry of health initiated pharmacovigilance activities in Pakistan in 1994; however a stable system could not be established owing to the unavailability of human resources as well as the infrastructure [4]. Later the suggestion for the establishment of Pakistan National Pharmacovigilance center (PNPC) was mentioned by the national drug policy in 2003 [5], however, the launch of the centre took place in 2012 following the tragic death of around 200 cardiac patients in Lahore as a result of an accidental mixing of Isosorbide mononitrate with Pyrimethamine that resulted in severe deficiency of folic acid, destroying the platelets and causing profuse internal bleeding [6,7]. In the view of the gravity of the situation, an independent authority for drug regulation (Drug regulatory authority of Pakistan – DRAP) was founded under the orders of the Pakistan Supreme Court in 2018. This authority was established for ensuring availability and safety of the medications. In order to devise an infrastructure for the post-marketing drug surveillance, DRAP in collaboration with the Pharmacopoeia of US established PNPC in the year 2017 and by 2018 Pakistan was included as a member in the UMC [8]. The centre has laid down protocols and practices for the international and national coordination and has added Pakistan 134th on the drug monitoring WHO program. Currently the PNPC is being governed by the 2012 Act of DRAP for developing, promoting and regulating the pharmacovigilance system in the country and coordination with provincial sectors to empower the hospitals to establish their own pharmacovigilance centers [9]. Future Perspectives of PNPC PNPC has come a long way still being in infancy and is setting up future goals towards development. Proper guidelines have been formed and an organized system was established by PNPC till 2018 for reporting Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) online. Training workshops for the members are regularly carried out to keep the work force ready and updated about the regulatory and management aspects. A regional centre of PNPC was announced to be established in Islamabad in November, 2019 [10]. PNPC has also upgraded its recording, monitoring and reporting system for ADRs via affiliation with the VigiFlow database of the country permitting maximum control locally effectively managing and analyzing the country-wide data [11]. The provincial, market authority and public health stakeholders are called for regular meetings. PNPC has composed comprehensive guidelines and legislation regarding pharmacovigilance protocols that are meant to provide legal surveillance of the activities. In the long run, the PNPC is planning for the establishment of provincial pharmacovigilance centers in each province, and the sub-regional centers and integrating them into the national database. Good practices of pharmacovigilance will utilize the obtained data to bring about safety protocols. However, a number of hurdles are still in the way. There are constraints related to logistics and legal matters as well as finances. There is a requirement of a collaborated effort by all the stake holders in the country. Healthcare professionals have a limited awareness about PNPC protocols and a reluctance to report the adverse events. The main issue is getting the healthcare workers and public normalized and used to with the reporting and surveillance system in order to cope up with the reluctance to report and awareness about the protocols. The success of this system is actually two way and it depends on the response from the reporting stake holders as much as it does on the system of the organization itself. The public health programs, hospitals and healthcare units need to be encouraged to participate in the PNPC system for proper reporting and detection of serious ADRs. Training and awareness sessions need to be conducted to form and normalize a reporting culture among heath care workers in Pakistan. Methods for assessment of severity, detection of cause and preventability of the reported ADRs, need further standardization. Furthermore, the international collaboration is still deficient as the WHO data bank does not have any adverse effect reported data from Pakistan; therefore, the gap needs to be filled as a priority. Although a lot still needs to be don e, a clear progress has been noted in the past couple of years. With the introduction of new guidelines and strategies; route to further progress is clearly marked but the effort has to involve all the stake holders which will start by the realization and understanding of the significance and need for a properly functional pharmacovigilance system in the country.

Drug Induced Liver Injury: Perspective of the Adverse Drug Reaction Reports to the Portuguese Pharmacovigilance System from 2010 to 2019

Background: Drug induced liver injury (DILI) is an adverse drug reaction that causes liver damage in a predictable (dose-dependent) or an unpredictable (idiosyncratic) fashion. We performed an assessment of DILI in Portugal, by analyzing the reports, sent to the Portuguese Pharmacovigilance System (PPS). Methods: A search was performed on the PPS database, in a 10-year time frame, from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019. Results: There was not a prevalence of either sex in any age group. Most reports (n = 1120, 55.0%) belonged to patients in the age group 19–64 years old. Hepatitis (n = 626, 26.7%) was the most common adverse drug reaction in our study. Hepatotoxicity (n = 362, 15.5%) and hepatitis (n = 333, 14.2%) were more frequent in age group 19–64 years old. Cholestasis was more prevalent in adults independently of age. Hepatic fibrosis and encephalopathy were more common in the elderly. Most patients consumed between one and four suspected drugs (n = 1867, 92%). Most patients in our study evolved to “cure” (n = 796; 39%). Hepatotoxicity (n = 23; 13.8%) and hepatitis (n = 610; 25.9%) had a female predominancy while choluria (n = 8; 4.8%) and splenomegaly (n = 8; 4.8%) were of male predominance. Conclusions: DILI is rare but can be fatal. As such, an active search of DILI is necessary.

Inhaled Drug Therapy-Associated Adverse Reactions in Obstructive Respiratory Diseases: A Review of a Decade of Reporting to the Portuguese Pharmacovigilance System

Inhaled medication used for treatment of chronic obstructive lung diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, and Asthma-COPD overlap) may be associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The aim of this study was to characterise spontaneous reports (SRs) of suspected ADRs received by the Portuguese Pharmacovigilance System (PPS), from 2007 to 2017. Methods: Retrospective observational study of SRs associated with single substance and combination inhalers, analysed in terms of pharmacological class of the involved drugs, sex and age range of the involved patients, and seriousness and type of ADRs. Results: 230 SRs were analysed, accounting for a total of 599 suspected ADRs. Inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-2 agonist combination had the highest frequency in SRs (32.2%) and in ADRs (32.7%). There was a slight predominance in men (51.3%) and non-elderly adults were the most affected age group (39.1%). Most SRs were serious (70.4%). In total, “respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal diseases” ADRs were the most reported (19.5%), with “dyspnea” being the most frequent (4.8%). Conclusions: Most SRs were associated with controller medications and were expected. Most ADRs involved non-elderly adults, were serious and of respiratory nature and many were due to overuse of reliever medication.

Detection and Reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions related to Antibiotics in Primary Healthcare in Greece

Background: Detection of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a challenging matter for healthcare professionals who contribute significantly to the pharmacovigilance system through their participation to the spontaneous reporting. Objective: The objective of this study was the detection and reporting of ADRs related to antibiotics in primary health care, in the region of Peloponnese. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all national health system primary health units of the Peloponnese region, in Greece. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a total of 404 physicians provided services in these settings. Descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0. Levels of significance were two-tailed and statistical significance was set at P =0.05. Results: 306 out of 404 physicians responded to the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 75.8%. 81.6% of physicians stated that they rarely observe ADRs related to antibiotic administration during their practice, 49.8% rarely report them and 33.7% never report them. Non-serious side effects (42.5%), physicians’ workload (24.1%), and the lack of knowledge about the reporting obligation (20.6%), have been declared as the main reasons of non – reporting. In addition, physicians with ≤10 years of clinical practice rarely reported the experienced ADRs after antibiotics administration compared to those with more work experience and the specialized physicians (p= 0.001). Conclusion: ADRs reporting rates among physicians in primary healthcare are low. Changes in physicians’ attitudes are vital and can be achieved through consistent and continuous training programs as well as the inclusion of ADRs and pharmacovigilance themes into the tertiary education curricula.

Patients Perception of Pharmacovigilance system: A Pre-Diagnostic and Post-Interventional Cross-Sectional Survey

Background & Objective The risk of adverse reactions necessitated the pharmacovigilance system for patient safety. Literature search documented better health literacy of patients through intervention. This investigation aims to assess the perception and the effect of an intervention on patients regarding adverse reactions caused by drugs.MethodsA pre-diagnostic and post-interventional cross-sectional investigation was designed in hospitals of Islamabad. The proportion of patients was selected based on a stratified probability technique. A prevalidated tool was used to collect the response twice through health promotion brochure with counseling was applied as an intervention.Results The findings of the study disclosed that health intervention improved health literacy among patients. Knowledge of pharmacovigilance was known by 97.9% of the patients in the interventional survey compared to a diagnostic survey in which the majority of the sampled population was not aware. The outcome of intervention on paired variables of knowledge, communication, and practice showed significant differences at the 0.05 level by using t-test statistics.ConclusionThe finding of the investigation provided evidence that patient awareness significantly improved by the health promotion model. Patient participation in the reporting of adverse reactions of drugs will complement the hospital staff reporting. These reports will construct an authentic cross-checked database for rational drug safety practices in Pakistan.

Pharmacovigilance in China: A review

Drug-related adverse reactions are among the main reasons for harm to patients under care worldwide and even their deaths. The pharmacovigilance system has been proven to be an effective method of avoiding or alleviating such adverse events. In 2019, after two decades of implementation of the drug-related adverse reaction reporting system, China formally implemented a pharmacovigilance system with the Pharmacovigilance Quality Management Standards and a series of supporting technical documents created to improve the safety of medication given to patients. China’s pharmacovigilance system has faced many problems and challenges during its implementation. This spontaneous reporting system is the main source of data for China’s medication vigilance activities, but it has not provided sufficiently powerful evidence for regulatory decision-making. In conformity to the health-centered drug regulatory concept, the Chinese government has accelerated the speed of examination and approval of urgently needed clinical drugs and orphan drugs along with the requirement to improve the safety supervision of these drugs after their listing. China’s marketing authorization holders（MAHs）must strengthen its pharmacovigilance capabilities as the primary responsible department for drug safety. Chinese medical schools generally lack professional courses on pharmacovigilance. The regulatory authorities have recognized such problems and have made efforts to improve the professional capacity of pharmacovigilance personnel and to strengthen cooperation with stakeholders through the implementation of an action plan of medication surveillance and the establishment of patient-based adverse events reporting system and active surveillance systems, which will help China bridge the gap to bring its pharmacovigilance practice up to standards.