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Drug-Drug Interactions among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Greece

Marios Spanakis1,2, Petros Ioannou3, Sotiris Tzalis3

  • 1Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71004 Heraklion, Greece.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|December 11, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are common and clinically significant in COVID-19 patients in Greece. These interactions, often linked to polypharmacy and comorbidities, can prolong hospital stays and require healthcare intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) significantly alter drug efficacy and safety.
  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) management often involves multiple medications, increasing DDI risk.
  • Understanding DDI prevalence in COVID-19 patients is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of potential DDIs in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
  • To identify factors associated with DDIs in this patient population.
  • To assess the impact of DDIs on hospitalization duration.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective evaluation of potential DDIs in patients admitted with COVID-19.
  • Analysis of patient comorbidities, including cardiovascular disorders and diabetes.
  • Statistical assessment of the association between DDIs, polypharmacy, comorbidities, and hospitalization length.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of DDIs was observed in COVID-19 patients.
  • Clinically significant DDIs were present in 40.3% on admission, 21% during hospitalization, and 40.7% upon discharge.
  • Polypharmacy and comorbidities significantly correlated with increased DDI occurrence (p < 0.05).
  • Clinically significant DDIs and elevated C-reactive protein were linked to prolonged hospital stays.

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 patients frequently experience clinically significant drug-drug interactions.
  • These DDIs pose a substantial challenge, potentially impacting treatment effectiveness and hospital stay duration.
  • Healthcare teams must proactively manage and resolve DDIs in COVID-19 patients to improve care.

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2adverse drug reactionsdrug-drug interactionspharmacotherapy

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