Adverse drug reactions in neonatal intensive care unit: Characteristics and risk factors

Mario Alberto Ramírez-Camacho 1, *, Landy Yuseline Canto-Rodríguez 1, Nery Jazhel Lara-Aké 2, Julio César Torres-Romero 3 and Alberto Paulino González-Mateos 1

1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Information Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY), Yucatan, Mexico.
2 Department of Pharmacy, Agustin O´Horán General Hospital, Yucatan Health Services, Yucatán, Mexico.
3 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY), Yucatan, Mexico.
 
Research Article
International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2023, 05(02), 015–023.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2023.5.2.0033
Publication history: 
Received on 06 March 2023; revised on 19 April 2023; accepted on 22 April 2023
 
Abstract: 
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in neonates can significantly affect expected clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of ADRs and identify the risk factors involved in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A prospective cohort study based on intensive pharmacovigilance was carried out in NICU of a public teaching hospital in the south of Mexico. Neonates admitted to the NICU who had between 1 and 90 days of age, with at least 24 hours of hospitalization, and a confirmed suspicion of ADRs were included. The prevalence and characteristics of ADRs were analyzed. Relative ratios (RR) were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to evaluate the risk factors of ADRs (p˂0.05). 998 newborns were included, 109 ADRs were detected in 75 newborns, the cumulative incidence was 7.51% and the ADRs were mainly probable imputability and moderate severity. The therapeutic group most frequently related to the development of ADRs was anti-infectives for systemic use and the blood and lymphatic system was most affected by the ADRs. Identified risk factors were: female sex (RR 1.58; 95% CI 1.01-2.47), prematurity (RR 5.6; 95% CI 3.45-9.11), low birth weight (RR 2.52; 95% CI 1.63-3.91), length of hospitalization >15 days (RR 12.95; 95% CI 7.89-21.25) and drugs administered >5 (RR 5.92; 95% CI 2.6-13.48). These results should be considered and studied in greater depth, which will allow the prevention of the development of ADRs in this group of patients.
 
Keywords: 
Adverse Drug Reactions; Newborn; Intensive Care Units; Risk Factors
 
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