Gender differences in adverse drug reactions: analysis of spontaneous reports to a Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre in France

The Safety Profiles of Two First-Generation NTRK Inhibitors: Analysis of Individual Case Safety Reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Database

The first-generation tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors, larotrectinib and entrectinib, represent exciting new developments in cancer treatment that offer relevant, rapid, and long-lasting clinical benefits. Larotrectinib and entrectinib are recommended as first-line treatments for locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with positive TRK gene fusions. In this study, using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database between 2019 and 2022, a retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the safety profiles of these drugs. During our study period, 807 individual case safety reports (ICSRs) related to larotrectinib or entrectinib were retrieved from the FAERS database, of which 48.7% referred to females and 24.7% referred to adult patients (18-64 years) with a median age of 61.0 years. A total of 1728 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were identified. The most frequently reported ADRs were dizziness and pain, which belong to the System Organ Classes (SOCs) "nervous system disorders" and "general disorders and administration site conditions". Regarding all ADRs, the median time to onset was 37.0 days for larotrectinib and 12.0 days for entrectinib. No evident safety concerns emerged in the long-term safety profiles (>365 days). Only 18 ICSRs were related to pediatric populations (≤16 years), of which 94.0% of the ICSRs were related to larotrectinib. The median age was 10.5 years, while most patients were female (44.4%). Our results show favorable risk-benefit profiles for larotrectinib and entrectinib. Considering the increased use of neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) inhibitors, continuous safety monitoring of larotrectinib and entrectinib is required for the detection of possible new adverse drug reactions.

Exploring the feelings of being at risk of vaccine related adverse effects: A cross-sectional survey in France

OBJECTIVES

The literature on vaccine hesitancy has widely commented on the various factors leading some to feel particularly at risk of disease infection while others do not. But little attention has been paid to whether we also see such differences regarding people's assessment of their personal vulnerability towards vaccine adverse events (AEs).

METHODS

We designed two cross-sectional online surveys among representative samples of the French mainland population (n = 2015 and 3087). We asked participants if they felt, more than others, at risk of severe vaccine related side effects and to explain why. We performed two separate mixed effect binomial regressions models: 1) to explore the link between the feeling of being particularly at risk of severe vaccine related AEs and socio-demographic characteristics, source of information, trust in health agencies and partisan orientation; 2) to explore the link between the fear of side effects and vaccine hesitancy.

RESULTS

We found that 15% of respondents felt to be, more than others, at risk of severe vaccine-related adverse events and that this feeling was associated to negative attitudes to vaccines. This feeling was particularly prevalent among women, those with a lower income, lower educational attainment and lower trust in public health institutions. The vast majority of the reasons given by responders are unrelated to genuine risk factors of vaccine related adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that vaccine hesitancy is at least partly grounded in a feeling of vulnerability towards vaccine adverse events.

Determinants of adverse reactions to first-line antitubercular medicines: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The success of tuberculosis treatment relies on patients adhering to their medication regimen consistently. However, adherence levels tend to decrease among patients who experience adverse drug reactions to antitubercular medications, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes. Hence, this study aimed to examine the types, incidence rates, and severity of adverse reactions caused by first-line antitubercular drugs. Additionally, it aimed to identify factors associated with the development of these reactions. By doing so, the study aimed to facilitate the provision of personalized and effective treatment to patients, ultimately improving treatment outcomes.

METHODS

Newly diagnosed patients with active tuberculosis were monitored from the start of their treatment until the completion of therapy. Any adverse reactions to anti-TB drugs that they encountered were carefully recorded. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods such as analysis of variance, Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, and independent t-tests. Logistic regression was employed to assess the association between adverse drug reactions and various socio-demographic and clinical factors of the patients, using odds ratios as a measure of association.

RESULTS

Among the 378 patients included in the study, 181 individuals (47.9%) reported experiencing at least one adverse drug reaction, with an incidence rate of 1.75 events per 100-person months. The majority of these reactions occurred during the intensive phase of treatment. The gastrointestinal tract was the most commonly affected system, followed by the nervous system and skin. Patients aged over 45 years (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.01-2.39, p = 0.046) and those with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (OR = 2.41, 95% CI 1.03-5.64) were more likely to develop gastrointestinal reactions. Female gender was a significant predictor of both skin (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.05-3.02, p = 0.032) and nervous system (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.07-2.55, p = 0.024) reactions. Additionally, alcohol use and HIV infection were identified as independent predictors of adverse drug reactions affecting all three systems.

CONCLUSION

Significant risk factors for developing antitubercular drug adverse reactions include alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, being HIV positive, female gender and extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Pharmacovigilance Bibliometrics: Visualizing Thematic Development in the Category of Pharmacology and Pharmacy in Web of Science

Introduction: Pharmacovigilance studies include monitoring and preventing the occurrence of new, rare, or serious adverse drug reactions, making it possible to discover new safety issues without delay. Bibliometrics could assist scholars to analyze the development of pharmacovigilance.

Methods: The MeSH terms of both pharmacovigilance and “adverse drug reaction reporting system” were retrieved in the Science Citation Index Expanded. The articles from 1974 to July 2021 in the pharmacology and pharmacy category were recruited. The citation reports including the publication numbers, h-index, and sum and average cited times in terms of annuals, countries, organizations, authors and journals were tabulated. The coauthorship relations in the analysis units of countries, organizations, and authors; the top 10 burst references; the document citation network; and the author’s keywords co-occurrence overlay map were visualized by bibliometric software including the website (https://bibliometric.com/), VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and CitNetExplorer.

Results: From 1974 to the present, the most high-yield publication year, country, institute, author, and journal were 2020 (n = 222), France (n = 522), Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb (n = 82), Jean–Louis Montastruc (n = 125), Drug Safety (n = 384), respectively, in all 2,128 articles. Similarly, the United States, Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, and Jean–Louis Montastruc had the most coauthorship strength at the macrolevel (global), mesolevel (local), and microlevel (individual). The topics of burst references covered are the development of methodology, issues of patients reporting and under-reporting, evaluation of methods and databases, assessment of causality, and perspectives in pharmacovigilance. Eight clusters were grouped in the document citation network. “Pharmacovigilance,” “adverse drug reactions,” “pharmacoepidemiology,” “drug safety,” and “signal detection” were the research priorities, while “drug-related side effects and adverse reactions,” “VigiBase,” “disproportionality analysis,” “social media,” “FAERS,” “chemotherapy,” “patient safety,” “reporting odds ratio,” and “preventability” might be the future research hotspots.

Conclusion: Positive synergies can be observed in this study by employing the multiple software tools which established the relationship between the units of analysis. The bibliometric analysis can organize the thematic development and guide the hotspots of pharmacovigilance in pharmacology and pharmacy.

High burden of adverse drug reactions to Isoniazid Preventive Therapy in people living with HIV at three tertiary hospitals in Uganda: associated factors

BACKGROUND

HIV is one of the most important risk factors for TB-related morbidity and mortality. Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is recommended to prevent latent TB reactivation in HIV patients. However, due to multiple therapies and comorbidities these patients are predisposed to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) which lead to increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of suspected IPT-linked ADRs in HIV-positive patients using IPT.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and March 2020 at three regional referral hospitals (RRHs) in central Uganda. We sampled 660 HIV-positive patients aged 10 years and older who received IPT between July and December 2019 inclusive. Patients were interviewed using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and their treatment records were reviewed. A modified poisson regression model with clustered robust standard errors was used to identify factors associated with suspected IPT-linked ADRs.

RESULTS

The prevalence of the suspected ADRs was 51 % (334/660; 95% CI: 18% - 83%). Patients' self-reported 7-fold more suspected ADRs than were documented by the Health Care Workers (HCWs). Musculoskeletal symptoms were the most frequently experienced reaction (14%) followed by dizziness (13%) and peripheral neuropathy (11%). Serious suspected ADRs were experienced by 12 % of the study participants; the most common were hepatotoxicity (26%), dizziness (23%) and neuropathy (17%). Female sex (aPR: 0.92, 95% CI = 0.88-0.95), study site (aPR: 1.09, 95% CI = 1.09-1.18), level of education (aPR: 0.94, 95% CI = 0.94-0.99) and history of TB (aPR: 0.93, 95% CI = 0.87-0.99), good IPT adherence (aPR: 1.16, 95% CI = 1.05-1.29) and use of protease inhibitor (PI)-based ART (aPR: 1.01, 95% CI = 1.00-1.02) were significantly associated with suspected IPT-linked ADRs.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of suspected IPT-linked ADRs is high and hepatotoxicity is the most commonly reported serious suspected ADR. Patients self-reported more suspected ADRs than were documented by HCWs. Patient engagement could improve ADR detection and potentially strengthen the pharmacovigilance system. High ADR-risk patients ought to be monitored regularly to enable early detection and management.

Cardiac Events Potentially Associated to Remdesivir: An Analysis from the European Spontaneous Adverse Event Reporting System

Remdesivir was recommended for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. As already reported in the Summary of Product Characteristics, most of remdesivir’s safety concerns are hepatoxicity and nephrotoxicity related. However, some cases have raised concerns regarding the potential cardiac events associated with remdesivir; therefore, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee of the European Medicines Agency requested to investigate all available data. Therefore, we analyzed all Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) collected in the EudraVigilance database focusing on cardiac adverse events. From April to December 2020, 1375 ICSRs related to remdesivir were retrieved from EudraVigilance, of which 863 (62.8%) were related to male and (43.3%) adult patients. A total of 82.2% of all AEs (N = 2604) was serious and one third of the total ICSRs (N = 416, 30.3%) had a fatal outcome. The most frequently reported events referred to hepatic/hepatobiliary disorders (19.4%,), renal and urinary disorders (11.1%) and cardiac events (8.4%). Among 221 cardiac ICSRs, 69 reported fatal outcomes. Other drugs for cardiovascular disorders were reported as suspected/concomitant together with remdesivir in 166 ICSRs (75.1%), 62 of which were fatal. Moreover, the mean time to overall cardiac event was 3.3 days (±2.2). Finally, disproportionality analysis showed a two-fold increased risk of reporting a cardiac adverse event associated with remdesivir compared to both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. This study showed that remdesivir could be associated to risk of cardiac events, suggesting a potential safety signal which has not been completely evaluated yet. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Preliminary findings from stimulated spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions during COVID-19 pandemic: an experience from Ghana

Background

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is limited information on the safety of drugs used for the treatment of COVID-19.

Objective

Objective of this study is to describe the pattern of stimulated spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports received from healthcare professionals for SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in Ghana and lessons learnt particularly for low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

This is a study of individual case safety reports (ICSRs) received from healthcare professionals between 1^st April 2020 to 31^st July 2020 in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in Ghana. The ICSRs were retrieved from the SafetyWatch System and descriptive statistics used to describe the ADRs by System Organ Classification and Preferred Term.

Results

Information was received from 40 COVID-19 Treatment Centres across the country with 9 centres submitting a total of 53 ICSRs containing 101 ADRs; approximately two ADRs per ICSR. Females accounted for 29(54.7%) of the ICSRs and males 24(45.3%). Newly reported ADRs of interest were one report each of tremor for doxycycline; scrotal pain, dyspnoea, gait disturbances and dysgeusia for chloroquine; and dry throat, hyperhidrosis, restlessness and micturition frequency increased for hydroxychloroquine. A strong spontaneous system with the availability of focal persons at the Treatment Centres played a key role in reporting ADRs during the pandemic.

Conclusion

This is the first experience with spontaneous reporting during COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. The profile of most of the ADRs reported appears consistent with what is expected from the summary of product characteristics. A study with a larger sample size with well-defined denominator in future studies is paramount in determining the relative risk of these medications in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.

Funding

None declared

Gender differences in the adverse events associated with cardiovascular drugs in a spontaneous reporting system in South Korea

Background Studies on disease-related gender differences in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are prevalent; however, gender differences in the drug-related adverse events have not been systemically described. Objective To explore gender differences in the adverse events associated with cardiovascular drugs using a spontaneous reporting system. Setting This study was conducted using the Korea adverse event reporting system and national health insurance databases. Methods The number of reported adverse events was divided by the number of patients diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases (Korean Standard Classification of Disease, 7th Revision, I05-I70) and prescribed cardiovascular drugs. We calculated adverse event reporting rates per 100,000 persons and the reporting ratio for women, compared with men. Main outcome measures Reporting ratios across the groups of adverse events and cardiovascular drugs. Results We identified 27,533 adverse events associated with cardiovascular drugs and 9,413,666 patients with cardiovascular disease. Compared with men, reporting ratios of women were higher in the following categories: Overall (1.09, 95% CI, 1.06-1.11), beta blockers (1.20, 95% CI, 1.05-1.39), and calcium channel blockers (1.14, 95% CI, 1.03-1.27). For the adverse events, the reporting ratio was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.14-1.58) for musculoskeletal disorders and 2.54 (95% CI, 2.10-3.07) for oedema in women. Conclusion Our findings on differential adverse events reporting rates associated with the cardiovascular drugs between women and men provide an evidence on possible gender differences in wide range of pharmacotherapy. A clear understanding of the relationship between drug-induced adverse events and gender will aid in the development of therapeutic interventions being tailored to the individual patients.

Sex Differences in Response to Triptans: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of sex on clinical response to triptans in migraine and to determine whether these differences are related to pharmacokinetics of triptans in men and women, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched clinical trials distinguishing clinical response to or pharmacokinetic parameters of triptans between sexes in PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science up to Dec 12, 2019. Analysis was based on data extracted from published reports. Male-to-female pooled risk ratios (RR) were calculated for clinical outcomes and pooled ratio of means (RoM) for pharmacokinetic outcomes using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Of 1,188 publications on clinical trials with triptans, 244 were identified with sex-related search terms. Only 19 publications presented sex-specific results, comprising n = 2,280 men and n = 13,899 women. No sex differences were revealed for 2-hour headache and pain-free responses, but men had a lower risk for headache recurrence (male-to-female RR 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55-0.76, Q = 0.81) and adverse events (RR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.72-0.93, Q = 4.93). Men had lower drug exposure with lower area under the curve (RoM 0.69, 95% CI: 0.60-0.81, Q = 18.06) and peak drug concentration (RoM 0.72, 95% CI: 0.64-0.82, Q = 8.24) than women.

CONCLUSIONS

Remarkably few publications about sex differences in triptan response are available. The limited number of eligible studies show sex differences in adverse event frequency, which may be partly because of drug exposure differences. This higher drug exposure in women is not reflected in different response rates. Despite higher exposure, women have higher headache recurrence rates possibly because of longer attack duration related to sex hormonal changes.

Sex differences in prevalence of migraine trigger factors: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To examine the effect of sex on migraine trigger factors.

METHODS

Prevalence of 11 frequently reported trigger factors was determined in a cross-sectional study among migraine patients from a validated migraine database (n = 5725 females and n = 1061 males). Female-to-male odds ratios were calculated for each trigger, using a logistic regression model with attack frequency and migraine subtype (with or without aura) as covariates. Additionally, the effect of sex on total number of triggers per individual was determined.

RESULTS

The top three most reported triggers in women were menstruation (78%), stress (77%), and bright light (69%). Men reported stress (69%), bright light (63%), and sleep deprivation (60%) most frequently as provoking factors. The following triggers were more often reported by women than men: Bright light (odds ratio 1.29 [95% CI 1.12-1.48]; p = 0.003), stress (1.47 [1.27-1.69]; p < 0.001), skipping a meal (1.24 [1.09-1.42]; p = 0.015), sleep deprivation (1.37 [1.20-1.57]; p < 0.001), high altitudes (1.70 [1.40-2.09]; p < 0.001), and weather changes (1.35 [1.18-1.55]; p < 0.001). Women reported more triggers than men, even when menstruation was disregarded (mean ± SD: 4.6 ± 2.3 and 4.3 ± 2.3; p < 0.001).Conclusion: Women report migraine trigger factors to be provocative of their attacks more frequently than men, which may be related to a lower migraine threshold due to sex hormonal changes.

Analysis of Adverse Drug Reactions with Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine at a Tertiary Care Hospital

PURPOSE

To describe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to carbamazepine (CBZ) and oxcarbazepine (OXC), including severe cutaneous ADRs, at a tertiary care hospital over a 10-year period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The frequency and clinical features of ADRs caused by CBZ and OXC were analyzed using the pharmacovigilance database and spontaneous ADR reporting data of Yonsei University Severance Hospital & Dental Hospital (Seoul, Korea) from January 1, 2010 to January 31, 2020.

RESULTS

Among 10419 cases prescribed CBZ and OXC, 204 ADR cases were reported. The incidences of ADRs were 1.8% and 2.2% for CBZ and OXC respectively, with no significant difference (p=0.169). The most common clinical presentations were skin disorders. Female patients had relatively more frequent ADRs than male patients. Although mild skin ADRs were more frequent with OXC, nervous system disorders, general disorders, and hepatobiliary disorders occurred more often with CBZ. There were six reports of severe cutaneous adverse reactions to CBZ, while OXC had none. Both CBZ and OXC caused ADRs at daily doses lower than the recommended initial dose.

CONCLUSION

Due to lower incidence of severe ADRs with OXC than CBZ, we suggest OXC as a first-line prescription.

Safety of Anticancer Agents Used in Children: A Focus on Their Off-Label Use Through Data From the Spontaneous Reporting System

BACKGROUND

Among factors influencing the higher risk of developing unknown or rare adverse drug reactions (ADRs) among children and adolescents, there is the frequent off-label use of drugs that seems to be very common in pediatric oncological patients. Our study aim to collect and evaluate data on the safety profile of antineoplastic drugs and their off-label use in the pediatrics population using real life data.

METHODS

We retrieved Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) with an anticancer agent as suspected drug among those reported through the Campania spontaneous reporting system from 1 January 2013 to 30 September 2019. We classified ICSRs into four off-label categories: "age," "route of administration," "weight," and "therapeutic indication." We defined an ICSR as an off-label case if it met at least one of the aforementioned categories for at least one of the reported suspected antineoplastic drugs.

RESULTS

A total of 18 ICSRs (7.6%) out of 236 were classified as off-label cases. The median age of patients was 13 years (interquartile range, IQR: 6-16), with 94.4% of cases occurring in male patients. In the classification of the off-label category, 16 ICSRs were categorized according to the "therapeutic indication" and two for the "age." No case was categorized for the off-label categories "route of administration" and "weight." The two off-label cases categorized as "age" were both related to the use of brentuximab vedotin for Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients aged 16 years. Twenty-nine ADRs (1.6 suspected adverse drug reactions per ICSR) were identified among off-label cases. Among ADRs, those reported more than one were diarrhea (N = 3), neutropenia (N = 3), nausea (N = 2), pyrexia (N = 2), and vomit (N = 2).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed a low number of ICSRs classified as off-label. The majority of off-label ICSRs were categorized for the "therapeutic indication." This low number of off-label ICSRs might be largely due to the underreporting phenomenon, which is a major limit in pharmacovigilance. Therefore, we believe that spreading pharmacovigilance knowledge and awareness might improve this aspect.

Adverse drug reactions in older adults: a retrospective comparative analysis of spontaneous reports to the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices

BACKGROUND

Older adults are more prone to develop adverse drug reactions (ADRs) since they exhibit numerous risk factors. The first aim was to analyse the number of spontaneous ADR reports regarding older adults (> 65) in the ADR database of the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and to set them in relation to i) the number of ADR reports concerning younger adults (19-65), and ii) the number of inhabitants and assumed drug-exposed inhabitants. The second aim was to analyse, if reported characteristics occurred more often in older vs. younger adults.

METHODS

All spontaneous ADR reports involving older or younger adults within the period 01/01/2000-10/31/2017 were identified in the ADR database. Ratios concerning the number of ADR reports/number of inhabitants and ADR reports/drug-exposed inhabitants were calculated. The reports for older (n = 69,914) and younger adults (n = 111,463) were compared using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

The absolute number of ADR reports involving older adults increased from 1615 (2000) up to 5367 ADR reports (2016). The age groups 76-84 and 70-79 had the highest number of ADR reports with 25 ADR reports per 100,000 inhabitants and 27 ADR reports per 100,000 assumed drug-exposed inhabitants. For both ratios, the number of reports was higher for males (26 and 28 ADR reports) than for females (24 and 26 ADR reports). Fatal outcome was reported almost three times more often in older vs. younger adults. Six out of ten drug substances most frequently suspected were antithrombotics (vs. 1/10 in younger adults). For some drug substances (e.g. rivaroxaban) the ADRs reported most frequently differed between older (epistaxis) and younger adults (menorrhagia).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a need to further investigate ADRs in older adults since they occurred more frequently in older vs. younger adults and will likely increase in future. Physicians should be aware of different ADRs being attributed to the same drug substances which may be more prominent in older adults. Regular monitoring of older adults taking antithrombotics is recommended.

Drug-Induced Anaphylaxis in a Vietnamese Pharmacovigilance Database: Trends and Specific Signals from a Disproportionality Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Despite the numerous studies investigating drug-induced anaphylaxis (DIA), understanding and quantitative data analysis in developing countries remain limited. The aim of our study is to describe and quantify DIA using the National Pharmacovigilance Database of Vietnam (NPDV).

METHODS

Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) recorded between 2010 and 2016 were retrospectively analysed to identify DIA reports. The trend and characteristics of DIA cases were described. Multivariate disproportionality analysis was used for signal generation.

RESULTS

Overall, 4873 DIA cases (13.2% of total ADRs) were recorded in the NPDV, 111 of which resulted in death (82% of total ADR-induced deaths) over a 7-year period. There was a remarkable increase in DIA reporting over time (p < 0.001). The incidence rates of DIA reporting per total ADRs and per 100,000 inhabitants remained high (mean rates [95% CI] of 12.06 [9.88-14.24] and 0.77 [0.33-1.20], respectively). Concerning suspected drugs, systemic antibiotics (n = 3318, 68%) were mostly reported with a reporting odds ratio (ROR) and 95% CI of 2.35 [2.20-2.51]. In the case of antibiotic-induced anaphylaxis, the third-generation cephalosporins were predominant (n = 1961, 40.2%, ROR 2.39 [2.24-2.55]). We also noted drugs generally associated with DIA such as contrast agents (ROR 2.43 [2.04-2.88]) and anaesthetics (ROR 4.02 [3.30-4.89]). Furthermore, unexpected signals were observed for alpha-chymotrypsin (ROR 1.75 [1.23-2.44]) and amoxicillin/sulbactam (ROR 1.59 [1.18-2.10]), uncommonly reported in western countries.

CONCLUSION

In recent years, cases of drug-induced DIA have increased in Vietnam, mostly due to antibiotics and third-generation cephalosporins. The inappropriate use of these drugs should be taken into account. Our findings also highlighted typical Vietnamese signals for alpha-chymotrypsin- and amoxicillin/sulbactam-induced anaphylaxis, which may relate to a specific sociological context in resource-limited countries.

Reported adverse drug reactions in women and men: Aggregated evidence from globally collected individual case reports during half a century

BACKGROUND

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Reports on differences in reporting patterns between women and men exist nationally. The goal of the present study was to assess the global evidence on spontaneous post-marketing ADR reporting differences between reports for women and men.

METHODS

We analysed data collected within VigiBase, the WHO global database of individual case safety reports, between 1967-2 January 2018. VigiBase contains more than 18 million reports from the 131 member countries of the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring.

FINDINGS

Of the reports with information on sex, 9,056,566 (60.1%) concerned female and 6,012,804 (39.9%) male children and adults. More female ADR reports were submitted in all regions of the world and by all types of reporters. A higher proportion of female reports was seen in all age groups from the age group 12-17 years and older. The largest difference was observed in the age group of 18-44 years and could not be explained by hormonal contraceptive use. The proportion of serious and fatal reports was higher for male reports.

INTERPRETATION

Global post marketing surveillance data on spontaneous reports indicate that women, from puberty and onwards and especially in their reproductive years, report more ADRs than men. However, there is a higher proportion of serious and fatal ADRs among male reports. Our results suggest important underlying sex-related differences in ADRs. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex throughout the entire life-cycle of drug development and surveillance and understanding the underlying reasons for reporting ADRs.

[Analysis of the digital preference for age in the pharmacovigilance system in Brazil, 2008-2013]

The scope of this article is to analyze the digital preference for the "age" variable in the database of cases of adverse drug events reported between 2008 and 2013 in the pharmacovigilance system in Brazil. The database was analyzed in three stages: 1) Initial exploration; 2) standardization of variables; and 3) duplicate records management. The digital preference for the "age" variable according to sex and grouped regions of the country, was determined using the Whipple and Myers methods and also measured by the adhesion test based on statistical χ2 at 5% significance level. The female population was predominant (60.3%), with a female/male ratio of 1.5:1 and a female majority in 8 of the 12 age groups. Throughout the period under analysis, no preference for a terminal digit was observed in the "age" variable. The ages that were registered in the database appear not to reveal any imprecision and, therefore, this information cannot be interpreted as unreliable. These results point to a good performance in collecting data and information related to the "age" variable of the Brazil's pharmacovigilance system.

Adverse Events Associated With PCSK9 Inhibitors: A Real-World Experience

In randomized clinical trials (RCTs) proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors showed a favorable safety profile, however, “real‐world” data on adverse events (AEs) is scarce. Three datasets, a hospital registry (n = 164), and two Pharmacovigilance databases, Lareb (n = 149) and VigiLyze (n = 15,554), reporting AEs attributed to PCSK9 inhibitors (alirocumab or evolocumab) prescribed in clinical practice were analyzed. In the hospital registry, 41.5% of the patients reported any AE, most often injection‐site reactions (33.8%) and influenza‐like illness (27.9%). Twelve patients (7%) discontinued PCSK9 inhibitor treatment. Most common AE reported in the Lareb and VigiLyze database was myalgia (12.8% and 8.3%, respectively). No clinically relevant differences in gender or between drugs were observed. No specific subgroup of patients could be identified at risk of developing AEs. During follow‐up, AEs resolved in most patients (71.1%). In a real‐world setting, PCSK9 inhibitors are well tolerated with an overall safety profile comparable to RCTs.

[Is the collecting activity of regional pharmacovigilance centers influenced by regional demographic or health determinants?]

PURPOSE

To compare the regional demographic and health indicators to the pharmacovigilance activity of the regional pharmacovigilance centers in terms of number of cases collected, responses to information requests and signal detection in 2015.

METHODS

The pharmacovigilance activity parameters (collected cases reports, information requests, reported serious cases) were expressed in regional proportions to population size and compared to regional demographic and health indicators (population, individuals aged 60 and over, individuals aged under 20, socio-professional categories, health facilities per capita, hospital beds [medicine, surgery and obstetrics] per capita, physicians and pharmacists per capita, mortality rate and drug consumption per capita) in 12 French metropolitan areas. The Spearman correlation between these two parameters was analyzed.

RESULTS

The territorial distribution of all demographic and health indicators and pharmacovigilance activity indicators in proportion to population size was different between regions (P<0.001): individuals aged 60 and over, individuals aged under 20, socio-professional categories, health facilities per capita, hospital beds per capita, health professionals per capita, mortality rate, drug consumption per capita, reported pharmacovigilance cases, information requests and reported serious cases. The number of regional collected pharmacovigilance cases per capita was negatively correlated with the territorial distribution of managers and intermediate professions (respectively r=-0.60 and -0.68; P=0.04 and 0.02). The regional number of reported serious cases per capita was statistically correlated with the regional number of hospital beds per capita (r=0.60; P=0.04) and inversely correlated with the territorial distribution of intermediate professions (r=-0.60; P=0.04).

CONCLUSION

Size of population is not the only determinant of the regional level of pharmacovigilance activity. Regional demographic and health parameters (age, socio-professional categories, hospital beds and drugs consumed) may partly explain the difference between regions.

Retrospective Study of Reported Adverse Events Due to Complementary Health Products in Singapore From 2010 to 2016

The objective of this study is to collate and analyse adverse event reports associated with the use of complementary health products (CHP) submitted to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore for the period 2010-2016 to identify various trends and signals for pharmacovigilance purposes. A total of 147,215 adverse event reports suspected to be associated with pharmaceutical products and CHP were received by HSA between 2010 and 2016. Of these, 143,191 (97.3%) were associated with chemical drugs, 1,807 (1.2%) with vaccines, 1,324 (0.9%) with biological drugs (biologics), and 893 (0.6%) with CHP. The number of adverse event reports associated with Chinese Proprietary Medicine, other complementary medicine and health supplements are presented. Eight hundred and ninety three adverse event reports associated with CHP in the 7-year period have been successfully collated and analyzed. In agreement with other studies, adverse events related to the "skin and appendages disorders" were the most commonly reported. Most of the cases involved dermal allergies (e.g., rashes) associated with the use of glucosamine products and most of the adulterated products were associated with the illegal addition of undeclared drugs for pain relief. Dexamethasone, chlorpheniramine, and piroxicam were the most common adulterants detected. Reporting suspected adverse events is strongly encouraged even if the causality is not confirmed because any signs of clustering will allow rapid regulatory actions to be taken. The findings from this study help to create greater awareness on the health risks, albeit low, when consuming CHP and dispelling the common misconception that "natural" means "safe." In particular, healthcare professionals and the general public should be aware of potential adulteration of CHP. The analysis of spontaneously reported adverse events is an important surveillance system in monitoring the safety of CHP and helps in the understanding of the risk associated with the use of such products. Greater collaboration and communication between healthcare professionals, regulators, patients, manufacturers, researchers, and the general public are important to ensure the quality and safety of CHP.

Sex differences in spontaneous reports on adverse drug events for common antihypertensive drugs

Purpose

To explore sex differences in spontaneously reported adverse drug events (ADEs) for antihypertensives in routine care.

Methods

A cross sectional analysis combining number of reports from the national pharmacovigilance database with data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register, from 2005 to 2012 for ACE inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), with or without thiazide, diuretics (thiazides, potassium-sparing agents, sulfonamides, aldosterone antagonists), selective betablockers, and dihydropyridine calcium-channel-blockers (DHPs). The total number of reports was adjusted to exposed patients and dispensed DDDs among women and men. Dose exposures, co-medications, and co-prescriptions were also analyzed.

Results

In women, a higher prevalence of ADE-reports was seen in ACE-I (odds ratio, OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.09–1.35), ACE-I-combinations (OR 1.61; 1.44–1.79), ARB-combinations (OR 2.12; 1.47–3.06), thiazides (OR 1.78; 1.33–2.39), diuretics and potassium-sparing agents (OR 1.62; 1.22–2.17), and DHPs (OR 1.40; 1.17–1.67), with a potential linkage to dose exposure. For aldosterone antagonists, we observed a higher prevalence of ADE reports in men (OR 0.75; 0.59–0.97) but without any sex difference in dose exposure.

Conclusions

This ecological study of reported ADEs showed a higher prevalence of reports in women in six out of ten groups of antihypertensive drugs, and this may potentially be linked to dose exposure. Aldosterone antagonists was the only group with a higher prevalence of ADE-reports in men with a similar dose exposure between women and men.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00228-018-2480-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Detection of drug safety signals from clinical trials data: Role of SUSARs

One of the main goals of safety management in clinical trials is to detect suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions (SUSARs). The unexpectedness concerns the nature, frequency or severity of an adverse reaction. Drug safety signals could thus be retrieved, and a study was performed to investigate whether SUSARs allow signal detection in pharmacovigilance. Data from six academic safety units were collected from 2005 to 2016. Characteristics of SUSARs were analysed and signals were identified i) by evaluating the presence of other causes, ii) by assessing the summary of product characteristics (SPC), iii) by searching for specific safety information in Pubmed and health agencies, and iv) by investigating the narrative of each case. Pharmacological plausibility was evaluated by compatible mechanism of reaction and time-to-onset. During the study period, 211 SUSARs were collected. They mostly concerned general disorders (26.1%) and protein kinase inhibitors (24.6%). After eliminating SUSARs with other causes or those considered as expected, 50 SUSARs (23.7%), involving a total of 115 drug-reaction pairs, concerned potential safety signals. Among these pairs, 12 (10.4%) were considered as pharmacologically plausible. This study indicates that one quarter of SUSARs collected in academic clinical trials refers to potential safety signals, especially for oncologic drugs. One tenth of drug-reaction pairs was considered to have a pharmacological plausibility and could merit further evaluation. This is the first study suggesting that SUSARs could be a source of safety signals and that their routine analysis should be complementary to spontaneous reporting.

Categorization and association analysis of risk factors for adverse drug events

PURPOSE

Adverse drug events (ADE) are among the leading causes of morbidity and hospitalization. This review analyzes risk factors for ADE, particularly their categorizations and association patterns, the prevalence, severity, and preventability of ADE, and method characteristics of reviewed studies.

METHODS

Literature search was conducted via PubMed, Science Direct, CINAHL, and MEDLINE. A review was conducted of research articles that reported original data about specific risk factors for ADE since 2000. Data analyses were performed using Excel and R.

RESULTS

We summarized 211 risk factors for ADE, and grouped them into five main categories: patient-, disease-, medication-, health service-, and genetics-related. Among them, medication- and disease-related risk factors were most frequently studied. We further classified risk factors within each main category into subtypes. Among them, polypharmacy, age, gender, central nervous system agents, comorbidity, service utilization, inappropriate use/change use of drugs, cardiovascular agents, and anti-infectives were most studied subtypes. An association analysis of risk factors uncovered many interesting patterns. The median prevalence, preventability, and severity rate of reported ADE was 19.5% (0.29%~86.2%), 36.2% (2.63%~91%), and 16% (0.01%~47.4%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This review introduced new categories and subtypes of risk factors for ADE. The broad and in-depth coverage of risk factors and their association patterns elucidate the complexity of risk factor analysis. Managing risk factors for ADE is crucial for improving patient safety, particularly for the elderly, comorbid, and polypharmacy patients. Some under-explored risk factors such as genetics, mental health and wellness, education, lifestyle, and physical environment invite future research.

Multifaceted interventions for improving spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions in a general hospital in China

BACKGROUND

The present study investigates changes in spontaneous reporting (SR) compliance and ADR patterns following adoption of a new hospital SR system, and multiple interventions designed for its improvement use under modified drug administration guidelines.

METHODS

In total, 1389 ADR cases were reviewed. Cases were divided into two groups, cases from period 1 (n = 557, from January 2006 to June 2011) under the old SR system and cases in period 2 (n = 832, from July 2011 to December 2016) under the new SR system with multiple interventions to improve physician SR compliance. General information, drug information, and clinical manifestations were investigated and compared between periods.

RESULTS

Interventions for improved clinician training, education on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), and economic incentives substantially improved SR adherence. We also found that changing drug usage patterns (based on the new drug administration guidelines) greatly influenced ADR occurrence and type.

CONCLUSIONS

We found the SR compliance can be improved by multifaceted interventions. Drug usage patterns also influence ADR occurrence, so programs tailored for rational use are essential. These results could lead to further improvements in the SR system for ADRs in China, and provide guidance for establishing better methods of pharmacovigilance.

Gender-based personalized pharmacotherapy: a systematic review

PURPOSE

In general, male and female are prescribed the same amount of dosage even if most of the cases female required less dosage than male. Physicians are often facing problem on appropriate drug dosing, efficient treatment, and drug safety for a female in general. To identify and synthesize evidence about the effectiveness of gender-based therapy; provide the information to patients, providers, and health system intervention to ensure safety treatment; and minimize adverse effects.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review to evaluate the effect of gender difference on pharmacotherapy. Published articles from January 1990 to December 2015 were identified using specific term in MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane library according to search strategies that strengthen the reporting of observational and clinical studies.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this systematic review, yielding a total of 6309 subjects. We observed that female generally has a lower the gastric emptying time, gastric PH, lean body mass, and higher plasma volume, BMI, body fat, as well as reduce hepatic clearance, difference in activity of Cytochrome P450 enzyme, and metabolize drugs at different rate compared with male. Other significant factors such as conjugation, protein binding, absorption, and the renal elimination could not be ignored. However, these differences can lead to adverse effects in female especially for the pregnant, post-menopausal, and elderly women.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review provides an evidence for the effectiveness of dosage difference to ensure safety and efficient treatment. Future studies on the current topic are, therefore, recommended to reduce the adverse effect of therapy.

No substantial gender differences in suspected adverse reactions to ACE inhibitors and ARBs: results from spontaneous reporting system in Campania Region

BACKGROUND

Today, there is a poor knowledge about gender differences in adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to cardiovascular drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze spontaneous reports of suspected ADRs induced by ACE-inhibitors and ARBs, between January 2001 and June 2015, recorded in a Region of Southern Italy (Campania Region).

METHODS

We performed a descriptive gender-related analysis of regional safety data, obtained from the spontaneous reporting system.

RESULTS

In the considered period, 772 suspected ADRs to ACE inhibitors and ARBs (in monotherapy or in combination) were reported with a slightly higher frequency in men compared with women. In both genders, the most involved category was ARBs in combination, whereas the most prescribed active substance was ramipril. General and administration site conditions, vascular disorders and modification of laboratory parameters were more common in men, while respiratory disorders were most common in women. In 88.2% of cases, not serious ADRs were described more by men than women.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis suggested no substantial gender differences. Further studies such as randomized population studies or meta-analysis of ACE inhibitors and ARBs randomized studies are needed to clarify whether gender differences exist in the safety profile of these drugs.

Is gender still a predisposing factor in contrast-media associated adverse drug reactions? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and observational studies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of gender as a risk factor for developing contrast media-associated adverse drug reactions (CM-ADRs) by comparing the incidence of CM-ADR between male and female patients according to study design, ADR type, and computed tomography (CT) examination.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We systematically searched three electronic databases for eligible studies. In the studies included (n=18), we assessed effect estimates of the relative incidence of CM-ADR, analysed by experimental design, ADR type and CT examination. This was calculated by using a random effects model if clinical conditions showed heterogeneity; otherwise, a fixed effects model was used.

RESULTS

We identified 10,776 patients administered CM. According to the designs, studies were classified into randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. Results were as follows: risk ratio (RR)=1.07 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79-1.46, P=0.66) for RCTs, and RR=0.77 (95% CI: 0.58-1.04, P=0.09) for observational studies. The results of analysis according to ADR type and for undergoing CT demonstrated that the incidence of CM-ADR did not differ between males and females.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no significant difference in the incidence of CM-ADRs between male and female patients according to study design, ADR type, or CT examination. Future studies to determine why gender has shown different roles as a risk factor between CM-ADRs and non-CM ADRs are needed.

Systematic Analysis of Adverse Event Reports for Sex Differences in Adverse Drug Events

Increasing evidence has shown that sex differences exist in Adverse Drug Events (ADEs). Identifying those sex differences in ADEs could reduce the experience of ADEs for patients and could be conducive to the development of personalized medicine. In this study, we analyzed a normalized US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Chi-squared test was conducted to discover which treatment regimens or drugs had sex differences in adverse events. Moreover, reporting odds ratio (ROR) and P value were calculated to quantify the signals of sex differences for specific drug-event combinations. Logistic regression was applied to remove the confounding effect from the baseline sex difference of the events. We detected among 668 drugs of the most frequent 20 treatment regimens in the United States, 307 drugs have sex differences in ADEs. In addition, we identified 736 unique drug-event combinations with significant sex differences. After removing the confounding effect from the baseline sex difference of the events, there are 266 combinations remained. Drug labels or previous studies verified some of them while others warrant further investigation.

Differences between Drug-Induced and Contrast Media-Induced Adverse Reactions Based on Spontaneously Reported Adverse Drug Reactions

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed differences between spontaneously reported drug-induced (not including contrast media) and contrast media-induced adverse reactions.

METHODS

Adverse drug reactions reported by an in-hospital pharmacovigilance center (St. Mary's teaching hospital, Daejeon, Korea) from 2010-2012 were classified as drug-induced or contrast media-induced. Clinical patterns, frequency, causality, severity, Schumock and Thornton's preventability, and type A/B reactions were recorded. The trends among causality tools measuring drug and contrast-induced adverse reactions were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 1,335 reports, 636 drug-induced and contrast media-induced adverse reactions were identified. The prevalence of spontaneously reported adverse drug reaction-related admissions revealed a suspected adverse drug reaction-reporting rate of 20.9/100,000 (inpatient, 0.021%) and 3.9/100,000 (outpatients, 0.004%). The most common adverse drug reaction-associated drug classes included nervous system agents and anti-infectives. Dermatological and gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions were most frequently and similarly reported between drug and contrast media-induced adverse reactions. Compared to contrast media-induced adverse reactions, drug-induced adverse reactions were milder, more likely to be preventable (9.8% vs. 1.1%, p < 0.001), and more likely to be type A reactions (73.5% vs. 18.8%, p < 0.001). Females were over-represented among drug-induced adverse reactions (68.1%, p < 0.001) but not among contrast media-induced adverse reactions (56.6%, p = 0.066). Causality patterns differed between the two adverse reaction classes. The World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre causality evaluation and Naranjo algorithm results significantly differed from those of the Korean algorithm version II (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We found differences in sex, preventability, severity, and type A/B reactions between spontaneously reported drug and contrast media-induced adverse reactions. The World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre and Naranjo algorithm causality evaluation afforded similar results.

Female gender as a susceptibility factor for drug-induced liver injury

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can involve all tissues and organs, but liver injuries are considered among the most serious. A number of prospective, multicenter studies have confirmed a higher risk of ADRs in general among female subjects compared to a male cohort. Although drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is infrequently encountered, the preponderance of evidence suggests that women appear to be more susceptible than men to fulminate hepatic/acute liver failure especially in response to some anti-infective drugs and to autoimmune-like hepatitis following exposure to certain other therapeutic drugs. A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain this sex difference in susceptibility to DILI. Collectively, these hypotheses suggest three basic sex-dependent mechanisms that include differences in various aspects of drug pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics following the administration of certain drugs; specific hormonal effects or interactions with immunomodulating agents or signaling molecules; and differences in the adverse response of the immune system to some drugs, reactive drug metabolites, or drug-protein adducts. At the preclinical drug safety stage, there is a need for more research on hormonal effects on drug PK and for additional research on gender differences in aberrant immune responses that may lead to idiosyncratic DILI in some female patients. Because the detection of rare but serious hepatic ADRs requires the exposure of very large patient populations, pharmacovigilance networks will continue to play a key role in the postmarketing surveillance for their detection and reporting.

Influence of patient sex and gender on medication use, adherence, and prescribing alignment with guidelines

BACKGROUND

This study evaluates the differences between women and men in medication use, medication adherence, and prescribing alignment with clinical guidelines.

METHODS

We conducted an analysis of pharmacy and medical claims for 29.5 million adults with prescription benefits administered by a pharmacy benefits manager in the United States, age 18 and older, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010. Prevalence and intensity of medication use were evaluated by sex, age group, and medication type (acute vs. chronic). Medication adherence was measured by the percentage of patients with a medication possession ratio (MPR) ≥80%. The percentage of patients receiving guideline-based treatment was measured for diabetes and select cardiovascular conditions.

RESULTS

The study population comprised 16.0 million women and 13.5 million men with continuous pharmacy benefit eligibility. Women were significantly more likely than men to use one or more medications during the analysis period (68% vs. 59%, respectively, p<0.001), and women used more unique medications, on average, than men (5.0 vs. 3.7 medications per year, respectively, p<0.001). Differences in drug utilization were observed for all age groups and medication types. For all clinical metrics evaluated, women were less likely than men to be adherent in their use of chronic medications, and they were less likely to receive the medication treatment and monitoring recommended by clinical guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant disparities between women and men in their intensity of medication use, their adherence to medications, and their likelihood of receiving guideline-based drug therapy. These differences may indicate a need for more personalized drug selection and therapeutic management to improve clinical outcomes.

Safety and tolerability of inhalational anticholinergics in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. With the significant toll of the disease, more resources have been invested in developing new treatment modalities. Among these medications, inhalational anticholinergics are widely used for the management of stable COPD. The newer agents, with longer half-lives and better safety profiles, have emerged and helped to improve management of COPD patients. The available data from randomized clinical trials support use of these agents. Multiple randomized clinical trials show safety and efficacy of the newer long-acting inhaled anticholinergics, including tiotropium and aclidinium. A recent meta-analysis of tiotropium delivered with Respimat(®) raised some safety concerns. A large trial, comparing different doses and delivery methods of inhaled tiotropium, is ongoing to determine the effect on mortality. As clinical trials may not comprehensively represent the entire COPD population, caution should be exercised when these agents are used in higher-risk populations, like individuals with cardiac arrhythmias or urinary obstruction. In this publication, we review the safety of inhalational anticholinergics.

Gene, ethnic and gender influences predisposition of adverse drug reactions to artesunate among Malaysians

CONTEXT

Artesunate (AS) and amodiaquine (AQ) are two prodrugs widely used as antimalarial agents and are metabolized by the CYP P450 2A6 (CYP 2A6) and CYP P450 2C8 (CYP 2C8) enzymes, respectively.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aim to investigate the association of both genes on AS and AQ's tolerabilities in the hope of identifying a pharmacogenetic approach that could be useful in prediction and prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) among Malaysian population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this randomized crossover study, loose and AS/AQ formulations were administered to normal healthy volunteers (n = 24) over two study phases. The drugs' tolerabilities (incidence of facial flushing, giddiness, headache, nausea, abdominal discomfort, progression of liver enzymes and neutrophil counts) were compared between the two treatment arms. Volunteers were also genotyped for the CYP2C8 and CYP2A6 variants.

RESULTS

The frequency of the CYP2A6*1B, CYP2A6*4, CYP2A6*8 and CYP2A6*9 alleles were 54.2%, 16.7%, 4.2% and 10.4%, respectively. No mutations for CYP2C8 gene were, however, detected. Most (96%) of the subjects were of the Malay ethnicity. Subjects having the CYP2A6*1B variants responsible for ultra rapid metabolism of AS suffered a significantly higher incidence of ADRs.

DISCUSSION

Our study is the first to report that CYP2A6 genotyping influences AS's ADR. Gender also plays a role where females reported more incidences of nausea (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that genetic polymorphisms of CYP2A6 as well as gender influence the side effect profiles of subjects receiving AS among this Malaysian population.

Emergency re-admissions to hospital due to adverse drug reactions within 1 year of the index admission

AIM

The proportion of re-admissions to hospital caused by ADRs is poorly documented in the UK. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of ADRs on re-admission to hospital after a period as an inpatient.

METHODS

One thousand patients consecutively admitted to 12 wards were included. All subsequent admissions for this cohort within 1 year of discharge from the index admission were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Of the 1000 patients included, 403 (40.3%, 95% CI 39.1, 45.4%) were re-admitted within 1 year. Complete data were available for 290 (70.2%) re-admitted patients, with an ADR contributing to admission in 60 (20.8%, 95% CI 16.4, 25.6%) patients. Presence of an ADR in the index admission did not predict for an ADR-related re-admission (10.5% vs. 7.2%, P=0.25), or re-admission overall (47.2% vs. 41.2%, P=0.15). The implicated drug was commenced in the index admission in 33/148 (22.3%) instances, with 37/148 (25%) commenced elsewhere since the index admission. Increasing age and an index admission in a medical ward were associated with a higher incidence of re-admission ADR. The most frequent causative drugs were anti-platelets and loop diuretics, with bleeding and renal impairment the most frequent ADRs. Over half (52/91, 57.1%) of the ADRs were judged to be definitely or possibly avoidable.

CONCLUSIONS

One fifth of patients re-admitted to hospital within 1 year of discharge from their index admission are re-admitted due to an ADR. Our data highlight drug and patient groups where interventions are needed to reduce the incidence of ADRs leading to re-admission.

Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions at a department of Internal Medicine

The aim of the present study was to characterize the pattern of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported in a university teaching hospital in south-east Serbia. The study was conducted based on ADRs reported during a six-month period to the ADR reporting unit of the university clinical center. Evaluation of data was done for various parameters, such as patient demographics, drug and reaction characteristics, and outcome of reactions. Assessment was also done for causality, severity and predisposing factors. During the 6-month study period, 44 ADRs were reported, with an overall incidence of 0.33%. No significant difference was seen in the overall incidence of ADRs observed in males and females. Incidence of ADRs among elderly (43.2%) and older (25%) adults was significantly higher than in other age groups. Type A reactions (66.7%) accounted for majority of the reports. The most commonly affected organ system was the renal system, (22.7%) with hyperkalemia as the only reported reaction. ACE inhibitors (48.6%) were the drug class most commonly involved, where fosinopril (25.7%) was the individual drug most frequently reported. Additional treatment was pursued for management of ADRs in majority (52.3%) of the reports. In 52.3 % of the reports, the patient had recovered from the reaction by the time of evaluation. Upon causality assessment, the majority of the reports were rated as probable (43.2%). Mild and moderate reactions accounted for 43.2% and 54.6%, respectively. In 36.3% of the reports, the reaction was considered to be preventable. The most common predisposing factors were polypharmacy and multiple disease state. The pattern of ADRs reported in our hospital is comparable to the results of studies conducted in hospital set up elsewhere. Our evaluations revealed opportunities for intervention to ensure safer drug use.

Quinidine for pharmacological cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: a retrospective analysis in 501 consecutive patients

BACKGROUND

Although quinidine has been used to terminate atrial fibrillation (AFib) for a long time, it has been recently classified to be used as a third-line-drug for cardioversion. However, these recommendations are based on a few small studies, and there are no data available of a larger modern patient population undergoing pharmacological cardioversion of AFib. Therefore, we evaluated the safety of quinidine for cardioversion of paroxysmal AFib in patients after cardiac surgery and coronary intervention.

METHODS

In 501 consecutive patients (66 +/- 9 years, 32% women), 200-400 mg of quinidine were administered every 6 hours until cardioversion or for a maximum of 48 hours. Patients were included with QT interval < or =450 ms, ejection fraction (EF) > or =35%, and plasma potassium >4.3 mEq/L. Exclusion criteria were: unstable angina, myocardial infarction <3 months, and advanced congestive heart failure. Patients received verapamil, beta-blockers, or digitalis to slow down ventricular rate <100 bpm.

RESULTS

Quinidine therapy did not have to be stopped due to adverse drug reactions (ADR), and no significant QTc interval prolongation (Bazett and Fridericia correction) and no life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia occurred. Mean quinidine dose was 617 +/- 520 mg and 92% of the patients received verapamil or beta-blocker to decrease ventricular rate. Cardioversion was successful in 84% of patients. All ADRs were minor and transient. Multivariate analysis revealed female gender (OR 2.62, CI 1.61-4.26, P < 0.001) and EF 45-54% (OR 1.97, CI 1.15-3.36, P = 0.013) as independent risk factors for ADRs.

CONCLUSIONS

Quinidine for pharmacological cardioversion of AFib is safe and well tolerated in this subset of patients.

A pharmacovigilance study of antihypertensive medicines at a South delhi hospital

The aim of the present study was to monitor adverse drug reactions associated with antihypertensive drugs. The study was conducted in medicine out patient department of 150-bed Majeedia Hospital at Hamdard University Campus in New Delhi. The study was conducted by way of one to one patient interview by a registered pharmacist using a questionnaire-based Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Form drafted according to the World Health Organisation Monitoring Guidelines. A total of 34 adverse drug reactions were observed in 250 hypertensive patients during the four month study. A high percentage of adverse drug reactions occurred in middle aged and female patients. Of the 34 adverse drug reactions, 18 (52.9%) were mild, 14 (41.2%) moderate and only 2 (5.8%) were classified as severe. Combination therapy was associated with significantly high occurrence (P < 0.05) of adverse drug reactions, with a total of 21 (61.8%) as compared to monotherapy (n=13, 38.2%). Cardiovascular adverse drug reactions constituted a major component, followed by gastrointestinal and respiratory complaints. Beta-blockers were the drug category associated with majority of adverse drug reactions, followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. The above pharmacovigilance study presents the adverse drug reaction profile of antihypertensive medicines prescribed in our University Teaching Hospital. It was concluded that calcium channel blockers were the most frequently prescribed drug category but beta blockers were associated with higher frequency of adverse drug reactions.

Sex differences in the relationship between amiodarone use and the need for permanent pacing in patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Amiodarone use was associated with an increased need for pacemaker insertion in a retrospective study of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prior myocardial infarction. The aims of this study were to determine prospectively whether amiodarone increases the need for pacemakers in a general population of patients with AF and whether this effect is modified by sex.

METHODS

The study included 1005 patients with new-onset AF who were enrolled in the Fibrillation Registry Assessing Costs, Therapies, Adverse events, and Lifestyle (FRACTAL). Multivariable Cox regression models, including time-dependent covariates accounting for medication exposure, were used to evaluate the risk of pacemaker insertion associated with amiodarone use.

RESULTS

Amiodarone use was associated with an increased risk of pacemaker insertion (hazard ratio [HR], 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-3.76) after adjustment for age, sex, atrial flutter, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and hypertension. The effect of amiodarone use was modified by sex, with a significant risk in women but not in men (HR, 4.69; 95% CI, 1.99-11.05 vs HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.42-2.58 [P = .02]). This interaction remained significant after adjustment for weight, body mass index, weight-adjusted amiodarone dose, and use of other antiarrhythmic or rate control drugs.

CONCLUSION

The risk of bradyarrhythmia requiring pacemaker insertion associated with amiodarone use for AF is significantly greater in women than in men, independent of weight or body mass index.

Idiosyncratic toxicity: a convergence of risk factors

The therapeutic margin for any drug is based on both toxicity and efficacy. Generally, toxicity is dose-dependent and is driven either by the therapeutic target or by an untoward target. However, idiosyncratic toxicities are usually not observed until a drug has been on the market and has gained broad exposure. Except in the case of pharmacokinetic interactions, these toxicities are not driven solely by drug exposure but rather depend on several drug- and patient-related risk factors. Drug-related risk factors include metabolism, bioactivation and covalent binding, and the inhibition of key cell functions. Patient-related risk factors include underlying disease, age, gender, comedications, nutritional status, activation of the innate immune system, physical activity, and genetic predispositions. Idiosyncratic toxicity can occur when a convergence of risk factors, including drug exposure, tips the risk-benefit balance away from benefit and toward risk.

Impact of CYP2D6*10 on H1-antihistamine-induced hypersomnia

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the relevance of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 genotype to the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of H1-antihistamines and the level of sedation.

METHODS

Japanese participants in a health screening program were asked to describe any past history of ADRs. Any subjects reporting ADRs induced by H1-antihistamines were then individually interviewed and defined as cases. Excessive daytime sleepiness, which had occurred in the cases as an H1-antihistamine-induced ADR, was assessed by the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and an ESS score >or=12 was considered hypersomnia. CYP2D6*4, *5, *14, and *10 were genotyped by a panel of polymerase chain reaction techniques.

RESULTS

Out of 2,074 participants, 100 cases (M:F = 37:63, mean age 51.9 +/- 9.2 years) were eligible for analysis. The most common etiological drug was chlorpheniramine, which is the most frequently used H1-antihistamine in Japan. CYP2D6*10 allele and genotypes were more frequently found in the cases than in the healthy Japanese population in a large study (P < 0.005 and P = 0.039, respectively), but no difference was observed in the null alleles and genotypes. The ESS scores in 75 cases (M:F=25:50) who had experienced excessive daytime sleepiness were 9.5 +/- 5.5 in men and 12.9 +/- 6.1 in women (P < 0.001, cases vs. 34 subjects without symptoms; P = 0.001 men vs. women). The occurrence of hypersomnia increased as the number of CYP2D6 mutant alleles increased (P = 0.045).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the presence of the CYP2D6*10 allele is a risk factor for development of H1-antihistamine-induced ADRs in Japanese.

Tolérance cardiaque de la moxifloxacine: expérience clinique issue d'une large étude observationnelle française en pratique médicale usuelle (étude IMMEDIAT)

BACKGROUND

Moxifloxacin (Izilox) is prescribed for bacterial respiratory tract infections. ECG analysis done in clinical trials showed a mean QT prolongation at 6 ms that could lead to Torsades de Pointe. However, Izilox was well tolerated during clinical trials. To confirm the correct safety profile of Izilox in a large sample of patients, a French PMS study - MMEDIAT - was carried out in usual medical practice.

METHODS

This prospective observational uncontrolled and monitored study was conducted in 13,578 patients with respiratory tract infection and treated with moxifloxacin 400 mg daily (duration: 5 to 10 days in accordance to the Market Authorization). Any clinical event being potentially a surrogate of a ventricular rhythm disorder ("critical event") were collected and analyzed by a Scientific Committee in charge to determine the potential cardiac origin of the reported event and to establish a causal relationship with the treatment.

RESULTS

Among 13,578 patients, 1046 adverse events (678 patients [5%]) were reported, including 854 drug related events (564 patients [4.15%]). Of these 1046 adverse events, 95 (62 patients [0.46%]) were serious. A total of 189 critical adverse events (159 patients [1.2%]) were reviewed by the Scientific Committee. After analysis, 34 adverse events (28 patients [0.21%]) were assessed from potential cardiac origin. Of these 34 adverse events, 25 (19 patients [0.14%]) were assessed as drug-related: palpitations [13 patients], tachycardia [4 patients], malaise [4 patients], vertigo [3 patients] and pallor [1 patient]. All adverse events were transient and had favourable outcome.

CONCLUSION

This PMS study confirmed that Izilox is well-tolerated in usual medical practice, in adequation with the safety data obtained in clinical trials.

Difference in risks of allergic reaction to sulfonamide drugs based on chemical structure

BACKGROUND

The chemical structure of sulfonamide antibiotics and sulfonamide nonantibiotics can affect the potential for adverse reactions.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether differences in chemical structure of the various sulfonamide drugs influence the risk of allergic events.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) using data from the General Practice Research Database. Cases were defined as patients with a diagnosis of hypersensitivity or allergic reaction. The date of the last event was the index date. Controls were matched on practice, type of DM, and index date. Current use of sulfonamides was defined as use in a 14 day time window before the index date. Sulfonamides were classified according to the presence/absence of an N1 substituent (N1(+)/(-)) and/or an arylamine (N4(+)/(-)). Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate strength of association and expressed as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Overall, current use of N1(+) N4(+) sulfonamide drugs was associated with the outcome (adjusted OR 3.71; 95% CI 1.40 to 9.81). Current use of N1(+) N4(-) and N1(-) N4(-) sulfonamide drugs was also associated with the occurrence of allergic reactions, although not as strongly: adjusted OR 2.48 (95% CI 2.12 to 2.89) and 2.07 (95% CI 1.74 to 2.46), respectively. Sex and age seemed to be effect modifiers. There was no clear evidence for effect modification by immune disease state.

CONCLUSIONS

Although we did not identify major differences between the groups, we believe that this approach is an innovative manner to examine adverse drug reactions by using chemical structure instead of therapeutic drug classes to classify exposure.