Potential drug-drug interactions identified as drug-related problems in the treatment of hospitalized patients with gastritis and/or duodenitis or peptic ulcer disease in Lublin (Poland) - An observational study

Abstract

According to the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe, a drug-related problem is an event or circumstance involving drug therapy that actually or potentially interferes with desired health outcomes. Apart from medication errors or adverse drug reactions, the term also embraces drug-drug interactions. The aim of our study was to identify the potential drug-drug interactions in patients with gastritis and/or duodenitis or peptic ulcer disease (PUD) hospitalized in 4 hospitals located in Lublin (Poland). These diseases occur quite often in Poland. PUD afflicts about 4-6% of Polish people, holding an important place amongst the so-called diseases of affluence in Poland. 206 anonymous medical records of randomly selected patients hospitalized between 2011 and 2015 for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and/or duodenum or gastric and/or duodenal ulcers were analyzed retrospectively. The introduced therapy was involved in 107 potential interactions: 1 interaction was classified as highly significant, 55 were classified as significant, and 51 interactions were regarded as insignificant. Mostly they were attributed to the modulations of the function of cytochrome P450, and they were detected primarily for co-prescriptions of proton-pump inhibitors, fluoroquinolones, metronidazole, and macrolides with other drugs. Education of healthcare professionals and patients, correction of current treatment schedules along with the implementation of effective strategies preventing drug-drug interactions, including reporting all suspected interactions concerning both new and well-known medicinal products are crucial in order to increase the quality and safety of pharmacotherapy.