Medication Errors in Overweight and Obese Pediatric Patients: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric pharmacology
• Patient safety research
• Public health

Background:

• Childhood obesity is increasing healthcare utilization and medication prescriptions.
• The impact of obesity on medication errors in children is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the existing literature on the incidence and types of medication errors in overweight and obese children.
• To identify factors contributing to medication errors in this population.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases up to December 2020.
• Inclusion of studies reporting medication errors in pediatric patients (≤ 18 years) who are overweight or obese.
• Methodologic quality assessment using GRADE criteria.

Main Results:

• Five studies met inclusion criteria, detailing dosing errors for antimicrobials, anesthetics, and paracetamol.
• Two comparative studies indicated higher rates of medication errors (over- and underdosing) in obese children.
• Identified causes include incorrect weight-based dosing, dosing strategies, and inappropriate use of age-based schemas.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant lack of patient safety evidence regarding medication use in overweight and obese children.
• Overweight and obese children may face a heightened risk of medication errors, though clinical significance requires further investigation.