Assessment of Drug Related Problems among Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients on follows up at Debre Berhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, 2020

Abstract

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that results from structural or functional impairment of ventricular filling or ejection of blood. Drug therapy of HF is growing more complex, thus making appropriate patient management increasingly challenging which makes HF patients are at risk for developing drug-related problems. A drug-related problem (DRP) is an event or circumstance involving drug therapy that actually or potentially interferes with desired health outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to assess DRPs among ambulatory HF patients attending at medical referral clinic of Debre Berhan Compressive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: A hospital bases cross-sectional study was conducted among 344 HF patients. Cipolle et al. DRP classification schemes used to classify DRPs and drug-drug interactions was assess by using Micromedex, up-to-date, and drug.com drug-drug interaction checkers. The data was entered in Epidata version 4.2.0 and analyzed by SPSS version 25.0 statistical software. Descriptive statistics such as mean, percent, and frequency were used to summarize patients’ characteristics. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors with dependent variables and P ˂0.05 used to declare association. Results: Drug related problem was found in 80.8% of HF patients. A total of 416 numbers of DRPs were identified. Adverse drug reaction (35.58%) was the top DRPs identified followed by need additional drug therapy (30.53%) and ineffective drug therapy (26.9%). Presence of comorbidity and level of education of study participants had significant association with occurrence of DRP. Conclusion: Prevalence of DRPs among ambulatory heart failure patients was high. Checking potential drug–drug interactions before starting a new therapy, ensuring sustainable availability of medications, and regular education programs are recommended to minimize DRPs.