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"Off-Label" Medicine Use In Burned Children: Three-Year Retrospective Study
I D Saputro1, O N Putra2, Hardiyono2
1Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University-General Hospital of Dr. Soetomo, Surabaya, Indonesia.
Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters
|May 31, 2021
Summary
Off-label prescribing is common in burned children, with 35% of medications used inappropriately for age, indication, or dosage. Analgesics were most frequently prescribed off-label, highlighting a need for further research in pediatric burn care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Burn Care
- Pharmacology
- Drug Utilization
Background:
- Pediatric burn patients present unique physiological challenges impacting drug response.
- Children are more likely to receive off-label prescriptions compared to adults due to altered pharmacokinetics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of off-label prescribing in hospitalized burned children.
- To identify the types and reasons for off-label medication use in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study analyzing medical records of burned children (under 18) from January 2017 to December 2019.
- Inclusion criteria: hospitalized burn patients receiving at least one medication.
- Data collection focused on prescribed medications and classification of off-label use.
Main Results:
- 35% of 215 prescribed medications were off-label.
- Off-label use for age range was most common (53%), followed by indication (30%), dosage (15%), and dosage form (2%).
- Off-label prescribing was more prevalent in children aged 2-12 years compared to adolescents. Analgesics were the most common off-label therapeutic class.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of medications administered to burned children are prescribed off-label, often with uncertain evidence.
- Further research is crucial to address the safety and efficacy of off-label medications, particularly high-risk drugs, in pediatric burn patients.
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