Monitoring of incidence, severity, and causality of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients with cardiovascular disease

Background : Patients admitted to cardiology department are mostly on polypharmacy. So drug-drug interactions and adverse effects of drugs are quite common. Yet, there is a paucity of data regarding adverse drug reaction (ADR) monitoring in cardiology department in India. The present study is an effort to fill up these lacunae.
Materials and Methods : A prospective, observational study registering 966 indoor cardiology patients according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria was conducted for one year. ADR profile was noted by spontaneous reporting and intensive monitoring. Naranjo ADR probability scale was used to establish the causality.
Results : A total of 208 ADRs were reported from 188 patients (19.5%). Of these 188 patients, 62 patients (33%) were hospitalized primarily due to the development of ADRs, while 126 (67%) patients developed ADRs during hospital stay. Nitrates were the most common offender drug group (17.8%).
Conclusion : Development of ADR in one of every five cardiac patient points toward a grave situation, but a higher incidence of Type A reactions in cardiology department means that these can be avoided.