title: Assessment of drug-drug interactions in hypertensive patients at a superspeciality hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to assess the incidence and pattern of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in hypertensive patients by using Micromedex and Medscape databases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study was carried out in a superspeciality hospital setting in South India for period of 9 months. Hypertensive patients who admitted into the hospital with the age more than 18 years, received more than 3 drugs per prescription and length of hospital stay for more than 24 hours were included in the study. An appropriate data was collected and assessed for DDIs with the help of Micromedex and Medscape databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 227 patients were enrolled during the study period. Among the 227 patients, 48 of them developed 53 clinically significant DDIs. Out of 48 patients, most of them were in the age-group of 50-60 years [18 (37.49%)]. The percentage of DDIs were higher in males [30 (62.5%)] compared to females [18 (37.5%)]. The most common drugs responsible for DDIs in the present study were Insulin [18 (33.96%)] followed by Metoprolol [10 (18.86%)], Torsemide [8 (15.09%)], and Hydrochlorothiazide [8 (15.09%)]. The most commonly interacting pairs were Ciprofloxacin-Insulin [6 (11.32%)], followed by Metoprolol-Insulin [4 (7.54%)] and Atenolol-Insulin [4 (7.54%)]. The most common consequences of interacting pairs were reduced serum potassium levels and hyperglycemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall incidence rate of DDIs was found to be 21.14% and the increasing number of co-morbidities (P ≤ 0.003) and polypharmacy (P ≤ 0.002) were the risk factor for the development of significant number of DDIs.
authors: Department of Pharmacy Practice, St. Peter's Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kakatiya University, Hanamkonda, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: Divya
authors: D
authors: Sivva
authors: Department of Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors: Uday Venkat
authors: UV
authors: Mateti
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, St. Peter's Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kakatiya University, Hanamkonda, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: Venu Madhav
authors: VM
authors: Neerati
authors: Department of Pharmacy Practice, St. Peter's Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kakatiya University, Hanamkonda, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: Nimbagiri Swamy
authors: NS
authors: Thiruthopu
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Balaji Institute of Pharmacy, Laknepally, Narsampet, Warangal, Telangana, India.
authors: Srinivas
authors: S
authors: Martha
keywords: Drug-drug interactions; hypertension; incidence; medscape; micromedex