Drug-related problems in hospitalized patients with HIV infection

The type and number of drug-related problems that commonly occur in hospitalized patients with HIV were studied.

The medical records of HIV-infected patients who were receiving antiretroviral therapy at the time of hospital admission between January 1, 2005, and August 31, 2006, were reviewed. Patients age 18 years or older who had received at least one dose of an antiretroviral for an HIV-related indication during their hospitalization were included in the study. Patients' medical records were evaluated to identify drug-related problems and adverse drug events secondary to antiretroviral therapy.

Eighty-three patients were eligible for study inclusion. A total of 176 drug-related problems were identified. The most common drug-related problem identified among medication orders reviewed was inappropriate dosing. Of the 251 orders for antiretroviral agents, 57 drugs were inappropriately dosed. The most common drug-related problems among patients were drug-drug interactions and incomplete antiretroviral regimens. There was no significant difference in the mean length of stay between patients with or without drug-related problems. Admission by physicians who were not infectious diseases specialists was an independent risk factor for having at least one drug-related problem during hospitalization (odds ratio, 3.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-13.54).

A majority of HIV-infected patients at one institution had at least one drug-related problem at hospital admission. The most common problem observed among the medication orders reviewed was inappropriate dosing. The most common drug-related problems observed among patients were drug-drug interactions and incomplete antiretroviral regimens.