title: Actual drug-drug interactions in elderly patients discharged from internal medicine clinic: a prospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence and type of actual drug-drug interactions (DDIs) that result in adverse drug reactions (ADRs) or diminished therapeutic effect in elderly patients within 30 days of discharge from an internal medicine clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study was conducted at the Internal Medicine Clinic of University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia, between October and December 2011. Patients aged ≥ 65 years discharged from the Internal Medicine Clinic during the study period with a prescription for two or more medications were eligible for inclusion in the study. A total of 222 patients were ultimately enrolled in the study. For each patient, potential DDIs were identified using Lexi-Interact software. The follow-up visit was scheduled approximately 30 days after discharge. Causality between DDIs and ADRs or diminished therapeutic effect of drugs was assessed by two independent clinicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Potential DDIs were identified in 190 (85.6 %) patients. Actual DDIs were detected in 21 (9.5 %) patients. In 19 patients, DDIs resulted in an ADR. Diminished therapeutic effect resulting from DDIs was detected in two patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were the drug class most frequently associated with DDI-related ADRs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant incidence of actual DDIs suggests that DDIs play an important role in patient safety. Drug therapy should be initiated if absolutely necessary, and the number of drugs used to treat elderly patients should be minimized to reduce the incidence of DDI-related adverse patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Dubrava, Av. Gojka Suska 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. srmarusic@inet.hr
authors.forename: Srecko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marusic
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bacic-Vrca
authors.forename: Paulo Roque
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Obreli Neto
authors.forename: Miljenko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franic
authors.forename: Viktorija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Erdeljic
authors.forename: Nives
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gojo-Tomic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies