(P-478) Assessment of Drug-drug Interactions Among Geriatric Patients in Community Setting

Background: Polypharmacy and Drug-Drug interactions are the point of concern in community setting and this study helps to review such prescriptions of geriatric patients and provide suggestion for the management of all such interactions to the physician.

Objectives: To assess the drug-drug interaction and their incidence in prescriptions of geriatric patients at community settings, to identify and manage them by creating awareness about DDIs among the community pharmacists, health care professionals and geriatric patients.

Methods:

Methods:
A prospective interventional study was conducted on geriatric patients visiting community pharmacies in Mysuru. Geriatric patients (above 60 years) constituted the study population, their prescriptions are reviewed along with any other relevant data available. Medication history interview of the patients is also done to have a proper understanding about the patient’s condition and the collected data is documented in the suitably designed data collection form. DDI’s were identified by using the standard text book (Soft copy), then they were classified and categorized according to the severity. The clinically significant DDI’s were notified to the respective Health Care Professionals and the necessary management techniques were suggested and intervened when required (Asked to give alterative drugs or to withhold treatment). Patients were also counselled at the community pharmacies. Evaluation and Statistical analysis was done.

Results: A total of 500 prescriptions were reviewed in the study for DDIs. Out of which 252 prescriptions were found to have at least one drug-drug interaction. The incidence of the DDIs was found to be 50.4%. A total of 102 (40.47%) interventions were done in this study. The mean (SD) age of the patient in this study were 70 ± 7.34 years and it was found that there is no statistical significance of age and gender on the occurrence of DDIs. Average number of drugs taken by the patients were found to be similar among both the groups, because of their multiple co-morbidities. Anti-hypertensives and Anti-diabetic constitute majority of DDIs incidence.

Conclusions: Our study concluded that use of multiple drugs (Polypharmacy) and presence of co-morbidities are the predictors of the DDIs. Most of the DDIs identified in our study were Severe in severity. The study highlights the necessity for proper monitoring of the DDIs at community pharmacies and need of awareness creation among Community pharmacist and patient to minimize the risk associated with DDIs.