Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2025
A Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Technique for Inducing Post-stroke Depression in Rats
Published on: May 22, 2019
Study on risk factors and associated drug related problems in patients with stroke
Tulsi Bhusal1, Durga Bista2, Rojeena Koju Shrestha1
1Department of Pharmacy, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal.
Background:
The second most common cause of death and disability worldwide is stroke. Drug-related problems (DRPs) can arise during any step of the medication process, whether it involves prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, or administering drugs. The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors and associated DRPs in patients with stroke.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients who had been diagnosed with stroke for 3 months using a purposive sampling technique at Annapurna Hospital. Data on demographics, comorbidities, and medications were collected through patient medical records, medicine Cardex, and nursing notes. DRPs were identified and classified using the Hepler-Strand classification system. Medscape software was used to assess potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were performed.
Results:
Among the 111 patients, the mean age was 58.72 ± 15.68 years. The majority of strokes were ischemic (68.5%), with the middle cerebral artery being the most commonly affected (24.3%). Males were more commonly affected (76.6%) than females (23.4%). Hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity (61.3%), followed by diabetes mellitus (27.0%) and hyperlipidemia (21.6%). Hyperlipidemia was significantly associated with risk factors for ischemic stroke. The study found that 91.9% of stroke patients experienced DRPs, with pDDIs being the most common type (91.09%). The severity of pDDIs was predominantly categorized as "monitor closely" (73.2%). The use of more than 10 medications was a significant predictor for high-severity pDDIs.
Conclusion:
The study concludes that polypharmacy is a significant predictor for high-severity pDDIs, highlighting the need for careful consideration when adding new medications to a patient's therapy. The high rate of pDDIs (91%) emphasizes the critical role of clinical pharmacists in identifying and mitigating these interactions to prevent further drug-related complications in stroke patients. Further research is needed to explore interventions to reduce DRPs.
Clinical Trial Number:
Not applicable.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
01:29Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Patient-Related Factors
Age stands as a key determinant in protein-drug binding. Neonates, characterized by low albumin content, experience heightened concentrations of unbound drugs such as phenytoin and...
01:23Factors Affecting Drug Distribution: Physiological Barriers
The capillary endothelial barrier allows only smaller molecules below 600 Da (Daltons) to pass through. It also restricts drugs like heparin that are bound to blood components, limiting their movement within the bloodstream.
The...
01:19Factors Affecting Drug Distribution: Miscellaneous Factors
Age plays a significant role due to differences in body composition among different age groups. Infants, for instance, have a higher proportion of total body water and lower albumin levels, a protein that binds drugs in the bloodstream. This unique composition in infants enhances the...
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...