Prevalence and Predictors of Drug Related Hospitalizations in Multicenter Study Settings, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Prospective Observational Study
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Date
2021-05
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Drug related hospitalizations (DRHs) represent a substantial burden on health
care resources worldwide and are considered as one of the leading causes of morbidity. Studies
carried out in various countries, the extent of DRHs has been estimated to be between 16% to
41.3%.Of those, more than half of the cases were preventable. Whereas in Ethiopia the
prevalence and factors independently associated with DRHs are not known. Therefore, the aim
of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of DRHs in emergency ward of
Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Zewditu Memorial Hospital and Yekatit 12 Hospital
Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from August to September, 2020 in
the three selected hospitals. Participants were interviewed and their medical charts were
reviewed through a structured data collection format. DRHs were assessed using Helper’s and
strand’s drug therapy problems classification system. The data were entered and analyzed using
Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26.Descriptive statistics and binary
logistic regressions were performed. P-value <0.05 in multiple binary logistic regression was
taken as significant level and results were presented in texts, tables and charts.
Result: The numbers of recruited and screened patients were 2655.Out of them, 423 participants
who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Of those who met the inclusion
criteria, more than half of them (216, 51.1%) were females. The mean age (SD) of the study
participants was 47.50 (±17.21) years. The mean length of hospital stay (SD) was 10.29(±8.99)
days and ranges from 2 to 96 days. Among the included study participants, near to three fifth
(245, 57.9%) of patients were hospitalized due to drug related problems, of which 87.8% were
deemed preventable. Of those, more than half (130, 53%) of them experienced failure to receive
drugs followed by untreated indications (94, 37.8%). The main reasons for failure to receive
drugs were due to patients preferred not to take the medications (43, 33.1%), they feared adverse
events (18, 13.8%) ,drug products were not available (17, 13.1%), patients felt better (17,13.1%)
and cost of medications was too expensive (16,12.3%).Factors associated with DRHs were old
age (age > 64 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 7.451, 95%CI: 1.889-29.397), tertiary
educational level (AOR=0.360, 95%CI: 0.141-0.923), participants who did not have any
occupation (AOR=3.409, 95%CI: 1.120-10.374),students (AOR=6.331,95%CI:1.375-29.153)
presence of co-morbid diseases (AOR=2.004,95%CI: 1.095-3.668), and hospital stay > seven
days (AOR=2.186, 95%CI: 1.412-3.382).
Conclusion: DRHs were common among emergency ward patients in the study settings. More
than four fifth of DRHs were deemed to be preventable.
Description
Keywords
Drugs related problems, Drug related hospitalization, Predictors, Prevalence, Ethiopia.