METHOD: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia from January 2012 to December 2017 with the purpose of assessing DRPs in RA patients and factors associated with its occurrence. A total of 200 patients who had received pharmacological treatment for RA were enrolled in this study. Assessment of DRPs was based on the Pharmaceutical Network Care Europe tool version 5.01.
RESULTS: A total of 289 DRPs with an average of 1.5±1.0 problems per patient were identified, in which 78.5% of the population had at least one DRP. The most common DRPs encountered were adverse reactions (38.8%), drug interactions (33.6%), and drug-choice problems (14.5%). Factors that had significant association with the occurrence of DRPs were polypharmacy (P=0.003), multiple comorbidities (P=0.001), hyperlipidemia (P=0.009), osteo (P=0.040), and renal impairment (P=0.044). These data indicated that the prevalence of DRPs was high among RA patients.
CONCLUSION: Early identification of types of DRPs and associated factors may enhance the prevention and management of RA.
SETTING: A tertiary medical centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
PARTICIPANTS: A total of 219 patients (range 23-80 years) who had received phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors as ED treatment were evaluated.
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adult patients aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with ED, and prescribed with sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients diagnosed with ED but who did not receive any PDE-5 inhibitor, or those with missing data.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Factors associated with demographic and clinical characteristics as well as drug selection were assessed.
RESULTS: Ischaemic heart disease (p=0.025), benign prostatic hyperplasia (p<0.001), obesity (p=0.005), lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) (p=0.006) and α-blockers (p<0.001) were significantly associated with elderly patients with ED. Additionally, LUTS (p=0.038) and α-blockers (p=0.008) were significantly associated with the selection of PDE-5 inhibitor.
CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that elderly patients with ED were significantly associated with comorbidities and α-blockers, whereas LUTS and α blockers were associated with drug selection.