Drug-Drug Interactions in Hepatitis Patients: Do these Interactions Matter in Clinical Perspectives?

Hepatitis patients usually present with comorbidities and polypharmacy which increases risk of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs). We explored frequency, levels, predictors, and clinical relevance of pDDIs in hospitalized hepatitis patients.

Retrospective cohort study was used. Clinical profiles of 413 hepatitis patients were reviewed for pDDIs using Micromedex-DrugReax. Frequency, levels and clinical relevance of pDDIs were reported. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds-ratios for predictors.

Of total 413 patients, pDDIs were reported in 55.2%. Major-pDDIs were found in 35% patients. Total 660 pDDIs were identified, of which, 304 (46%) were of major-severity and 299 (45%) of moderateseverity. Patient's profiles of top-10 major-pDDIs were presented with signs/symptoms such as fever, hepatomegaly, anorexia, jaundice, hypertension, tachycardia, bradycardia, & pedal edema; and abnormalities in labs such as electrolytes-level, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, bilirubin-level, & serum creatinine. Significant association was observed for the presence of pDDIs with > 9 prescribed medicines (p < 0.001), hospitalization of > 5 days (p = 0.03), and stroke as comorbidity (p = 0.05). Moreover, odds of exposure to major-pDDIs were significantly higher in patients taking > 9 prescribed medicines (p < 0.001), hospitalization of > 5 days (p = 0.002), and stroke as comorbidity (p = 0.002).

We observed hepatitis patients presented with a considerable number of clinically relevant pDDIs. Attention should be given to widespread major-pDDIs and their potential adverse outcomes. Clinically relevant parameters, such as labs and signs/symptoms should be monitored particularly in high risk patients having polypharmacy, prolong hospitalization, and stroke as comorbidity.