A Clinical Pharmacy Service to Prevent Drug–Drug Interactions and Potentially Inappropriate Medication: A Consecutive Intervention Study in Older Intermediate Care Patients of a Regional Hospital

<i>Background:</i> In intermediate care, older patients with polypharmacy are vulnerable to drug–drug interactions (DDI) and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). Aims: To perform a consecutive intervention study to evaluate DDI/PIM. <i>Methods:</i> Clinically-relevant...

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Main Authors: Alexander Kilian Ullmann, Oliver Bach, Kathrin Mosch, Thilo Bertsche
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Pharmacy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/13/3/60
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author Alexander Kilian Ullmann
Oliver Bach
Kathrin Mosch
Thilo Bertsche
author_facet Alexander Kilian Ullmann
Oliver Bach
Kathrin Mosch
Thilo Bertsche
author_sort Alexander Kilian Ullmann
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background:</i> In intermediate care, older patients with polypharmacy are vulnerable to drug–drug interactions (DDI) and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). Aims: To perform a consecutive intervention study to evaluate DDI/PIM. <i>Methods:</i> Clinically-relevant DDI/PIM were identified using AMeLI (electronic medication list) and PRISCUS 2.0 (PIM list). Consecutive patients (standard care group) were screened for DDI/PIM after admission (t0) and again before discharge (t1). In an interim period, physicians received general education about DDI/PIM. Then, consecutive patients (independent clinical pharmacy group) were screened for DDI/PIM after admission (t2). Physicians were then provided with patient-individualized recommendations by a clinical pharmacist to prevent DDI/PIM. The patients were then screened again for DDI/PIM before discharge (t3). <i>Results:</i> In each group, 100 patients were included with data available for evaluation from 97 (standard care group, median age: 78 years [Q25/Q75: 69/84]) and 89 (clinical pharmacy group, 76 years [67/84]). In the standard care group, DDI were identified in 55 (57%) patients after admission (t0) and 54 (56%) before discharge (t1, ARR[t0/t1] = 0.01, NNT[t0/t1] = 100, n.s.). In the clinical pharmacy group, DDI were identified in 32 (36%) after admission (t2; ARR[t0/t2] = 0.21/NNT[t0/t2] = 5, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and 26 (29%) before discharge (t3; ARR[t2/t3] = 0.07/NNT[t2/t3] = 15, n.s.; ARR[t1/t3] = 0.27/NNT[t1/t3] = 4, <i>p</i> < 0.001). PIM were identified in patients at t0: 34 (35%), t1: 35 (36%, ARR[t0/t1] = −0.01/NNH[t0/t1] = 100, n.s.), t2: 25 (26%, ARR[t0/t2] = 0.09/NNT[t0/t2] = 12, n.s.), t3: 23 (24%, ARR[t2/t3] = 0.11/NNT[t2/t3] = 10, n.s.; ARR[t1/t3] = 0.12/NNT[t1/t3] = 9, n.s.). <i>Conclusions:</i> In the standard care group, after admission, many DDI/PIM were identified in older intermediate care patients. Before discharge, their number was hardly influenced at all. General education for physicians led to DDI prevention after admission. In addition, the DDI frequency decreased by providing physicians with patient-individualized recommendations.
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spelling doaj-art-d68b4b78f6204f808a01181a734cd7fd2025-08-20T03:27:32ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872025-04-011336010.3390/pharmacy13030060A Clinical Pharmacy Service to Prevent Drug–Drug Interactions and Potentially Inappropriate Medication: A Consecutive Intervention Study in Older Intermediate Care Patients of a Regional HospitalAlexander Kilian Ullmann0Oliver Bach1Kathrin Mosch2Thilo Bertsche3Clinical Pharmacy Department, Institute of Pharmacy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyRegional Hospital Freiberg gGmbH, 09599 Freiberg, GermanyRegional Hospital Freiberg gGmbH, 09599 Freiberg, GermanyClinical Pharmacy Department, Institute of Pharmacy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany<i>Background:</i> In intermediate care, older patients with polypharmacy are vulnerable to drug–drug interactions (DDI) and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). Aims: To perform a consecutive intervention study to evaluate DDI/PIM. <i>Methods:</i> Clinically-relevant DDI/PIM were identified using AMeLI (electronic medication list) and PRISCUS 2.0 (PIM list). Consecutive patients (standard care group) were screened for DDI/PIM after admission (t0) and again before discharge (t1). In an interim period, physicians received general education about DDI/PIM. Then, consecutive patients (independent clinical pharmacy group) were screened for DDI/PIM after admission (t2). Physicians were then provided with patient-individualized recommendations by a clinical pharmacist to prevent DDI/PIM. The patients were then screened again for DDI/PIM before discharge (t3). <i>Results:</i> In each group, 100 patients were included with data available for evaluation from 97 (standard care group, median age: 78 years [Q25/Q75: 69/84]) and 89 (clinical pharmacy group, 76 years [67/84]). In the standard care group, DDI were identified in 55 (57%) patients after admission (t0) and 54 (56%) before discharge (t1, ARR[t0/t1] = 0.01, NNT[t0/t1] = 100, n.s.). In the clinical pharmacy group, DDI were identified in 32 (36%) after admission (t2; ARR[t0/t2] = 0.21/NNT[t0/t2] = 5, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and 26 (29%) before discharge (t3; ARR[t2/t3] = 0.07/NNT[t2/t3] = 15, n.s.; ARR[t1/t3] = 0.27/NNT[t1/t3] = 4, <i>p</i> < 0.001). PIM were identified in patients at t0: 34 (35%), t1: 35 (36%, ARR[t0/t1] = −0.01/NNH[t0/t1] = 100, n.s.), t2: 25 (26%, ARR[t0/t2] = 0.09/NNT[t0/t2] = 12, n.s.), t3: 23 (24%, ARR[t2/t3] = 0.11/NNT[t2/t3] = 10, n.s.; ARR[t1/t3] = 0.12/NNT[t1/t3] = 9, n.s.). <i>Conclusions:</i> In the standard care group, after admission, many DDI/PIM were identified in older intermediate care patients. Before discharge, their number was hardly influenced at all. General education for physicians led to DDI prevention after admission. In addition, the DDI frequency decreased by providing physicians with patient-individualized recommendations.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/13/3/60pharmacy servicehospitalmedication reviewdrug interactionspotentially inappropriate medication list
spellingShingle Alexander Kilian Ullmann
Oliver Bach
Kathrin Mosch
Thilo Bertsche
A Clinical Pharmacy Service to Prevent Drug–Drug Interactions and Potentially Inappropriate Medication: A Consecutive Intervention Study in Older Intermediate Care Patients of a Regional Hospital
Pharmacy
pharmacy service
hospital
medication review
drug interactions
potentially inappropriate medication list
title A Clinical Pharmacy Service to Prevent Drug–Drug Interactions and Potentially Inappropriate Medication: A Consecutive Intervention Study in Older Intermediate Care Patients of a Regional Hospital
title_full A Clinical Pharmacy Service to Prevent Drug–Drug Interactions and Potentially Inappropriate Medication: A Consecutive Intervention Study in Older Intermediate Care Patients of a Regional Hospital
title_fullStr A Clinical Pharmacy Service to Prevent Drug–Drug Interactions and Potentially Inappropriate Medication: A Consecutive Intervention Study in Older Intermediate Care Patients of a Regional Hospital
title_full_unstemmed A Clinical Pharmacy Service to Prevent Drug–Drug Interactions and Potentially Inappropriate Medication: A Consecutive Intervention Study in Older Intermediate Care Patients of a Regional Hospital
title_short A Clinical Pharmacy Service to Prevent Drug–Drug Interactions and Potentially Inappropriate Medication: A Consecutive Intervention Study in Older Intermediate Care Patients of a Regional Hospital
title_sort clinical pharmacy service to prevent drug drug interactions and potentially inappropriate medication a consecutive intervention study in older intermediate care patients of a regional hospital
topic pharmacy service
hospital
medication review
drug interactions
potentially inappropriate medication list
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/13/3/60
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