Prevalence of Drug-Drug Interactions in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients: An Observational Cohort Study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to enhance patient safety by identifying, preventing and managing adverse outcomes caused by combined medication use.

Background: Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are a significant concern in hospital settings, particularly among elderly patients who are considered a high-risk population due to polypharmacy and age-related physiological changes. Despite this, there is a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews addressing the prevalence of DDIs in hospitalized elderly populations. This study aims to evaluate and summarize the existing evidence on the prevalence of DDIs among hospitalized elderly patients. Additionally, it seeks to identify the most commonly implicated drugs, drug classes, and drug combinations associated with these interactions. Original observational studies reporting the prevalence of actual or potential DDIs in hospitalized patients aged 60 years or older were included. The primary outcomes assessed were the prevalence of DDIs and the number of DDIs per patient. Subgroup analyses were conducted for studies focusing on geriatric units.

Methodology: A prospect of observational study was conducted at tertiary care Hospital over 6 months. A total of 100 patients are having drug drug interactions. The patients having drug drug interactions after resolving issue the quality of life of patient improves, after collecting all information about patient that includes demographic details, subjective evidence ,objective evidence, assessment ,treatment before and after. Individual patient information was collected, data analysis was analyzed by using standard deviation.

Results: A total 100 patients were included in the research. The prevalence of DDIs varied widely, ranging from 2.34% to 80%. In geriatric unit settings, prevalence rates were notably higher, ranging from 80.5% to 90.5%. The number of DDIs per patient ranged from 1.0 to 9.0. The drugs most frequently associated with DDIs included aspirin, pantoprazole, ceftriaxone, diclofenac, amikacin, telmisartan, atorvastatin, clopidogrel. The most commonly implicated drug classes were anti platelets, NSAIDS, antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, Angiotensin receptor blocker, and statins.

Conclusion: The prevalence of DDIs in hospitalized elderly patients varies considerably. This variability may be attributed to differences in patient health status, complexity of care, and methodological approaches. These findings highlight the need for standardized methods and improved monitoring systems to better assess and manage DDIs in this vulnerable population.