PATTERN OF ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN WESTERN ODISHA

Objective: To assess the pattern of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in VSS Medical College, Burla, Odisha from October 2012 to September 2014. ADRs collected from various clinical departments were compiled and analyzed for distribution of age, gender, department, drug class and organ system. Assessment of causality, severity, and preventability was done using specific scales. Results: The occurrence of ADRs was more in males compared to females in the age group 19-60 years of age. Most of the ADRs were collected from medicine department followed by dermatology and psychiatry. The skin was the most common organ system affected followed by gastrointestinal and central nervous system. Antiretroviral drugs were the most common drugs causing ADRs followed by antimicrobials and antipsychotics. Skin rashes were the most common reaction followed by vomiting and extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Causality assessments of ADRs were probable for 35.71 % and possible for 64.29 %. Most of the ADRs were of moderate severity (47.48 %) followed by mild (45.38%) and severe (7.14%). 59.67% of ADRs were categorized as probably preventable whereas 36.47% were not preventable. Conclusions: Majority of ADRs can be prevented by taking proper action at the early stage. Knowledge about the drugs and predictable adverse drug reactions are the requirement for preventing severe adverse drug reactions at a later stage.