Drug interactions in maternal intensive care: prevalence, risk factors, and potential risk medications

• Published in: Einstein (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 17; no. 3; p. eAO4521
• Main Authors: Pessoa, Thiago de Lima, Clemente Junior, Washington Sales, Costa, Tatiana Xavier da, Bezerra, Priscilla Karilline do Vale, Martins, Rand Randall
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 30.05.2019
• Subjects: Gravidez; Interações de medicamentos; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Original; Saúde materna; Tratamento farmacológico; Unidade de terapia intensiva; Pregnancy; Interações de medicamentos; Intensive care units; Drug interactions; Tratamento farmacológico; Unidade de terapia intensiva; Saúde materna; Drug therapy; Maternal health; Gravidez
• ISSN: 1679-4508; 2317-6385; 2317-6385
• DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2019AO4521

To characterize severe potential drug interactions in maternal intensive care, and to determine their frequency, risk factors and potential risk medications. An observational and longitudinal study conducted between December 2014 and December 2015 in a maternal intensive care unit. Clinical data were collected and severe potential drug interactions were identified on pregnant inpatients. The drug interactions were classified by type, prevalence and exposure rate. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the severe potential drug interactions and the related drugs (p<0.05). A total of 95.1% of patients were exposed to, at least, one potential drug interaction; in that, 91.7% 33.9% were related to, respectively, moderate and severe potential drug interactions. The patients were exposed, on average, on 69.2% of days they were in the intensive care unit. The main drugs involved in more severe drug interactions were magnesium sulfate, metoclopramide, propranolol and diazepam. The severe potential drug interactions were observed in almost all patients of the study, and, approximately one third of those interactions were related to greater severity and resulted in exposure during long hospital stay. The higher number of prescribed drugs and its previous use of medications at home increase the occurrence of severe potential drug interactions.