Drug-Drug Interactions Among Elderly Patients Hospitalized for Drug Toxicity David N. Juurlink, MD, FRCPC Context Drug-drug interactions are a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality,
yet their consequences in the community are not well characterized. Objective To determine whether elderly patients admitted to hospital with specific drug toxicities were likely to have been prescribed an interacting drug in the week Design Three population-based, nested case-control studies. Setting Ontario, Canada, from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2000.
DVERSE DRUG EVENTS AFFECTmillions of patients each year
Patients All Ontario residents aged 66 years or older treated with glyburide, di- goxin, or an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Case patients were those
admitted to hospital for drug-related toxicity. Prescription records of cases were com-
pared with those of controls (matched on age, sex, use of the same medication, and
presence or absence of renal disease) for receipt of interacting medications (co-
trimoxazole with glyburide, clarithromycin with digoxin, and potassium-sparing di-
Main Outcome Measure Odds ratio for association between hospital admission
for drug toxicity (hypoglycemia, digoxin toxicity, or hyperkalemia, respectively) and
use of an interacting medication in the preceding week, adjusted for diagnoses, re-
ceipt of other medications, the number of prescription drugs, and the number of hos-
pital admissions in the year preceding the index date.
larly important type of adverse drug event
Results During the 7-year study period, 909 elderly patients receiving glyburide
were admitted with a diagnosis of hypoglycemia. In the primary analysis, those
on previous reports, clinical studies, and
patients admitted for hypoglycemia were more than 6 times as likely to have been
treated with co-trimoxazole in the previous week (adjusted odds ratio, 6.6; 95%
confidence interval, 4.5-9.7). Patients admitted with digoxin toxicity (n = 1051)were about 12 times more likely to have been treated with clarithromycin (adjusted
odds ratio, 11.7; 95% confidence interval, 7.5-18.2) in the previous week, and
patients treated with ACE inhibitors admitted with a diagnosis of hyperkalemia
tions from the marketplace.4-10 Such dras-
(n = 523) were about 20 times more likely to have been treated with a potassium-
tic measures are probably justifiable be-
sparing diuretic (adjusted odds ratio, 20.3; 95% confidence interval, 13.4-30.7) in
the previous week. No increased risk of drug toxicity was found for drugs with simi-
serious drug-drug interactions.11-15 More-
lar indications but no known interactions (amoxicillin, cefuroxime, and indapamide,
Conclusions Many hospital admissions of elderly patients for drug toxicity occur af-
tions fail to detect up to a third of drug-
ter administration of a drug known to cause drug-drug interactions. Many of these
drug interactions, while frequently alert-
interactions could have been avoided.
ing pharmacists to trivial or nonspecific
Author Affiliations: Sunnybrook and Women’s Col-
improvement services, and the University of Arizona
lege Health Sciences Centre; the Clinical Epidemiol-
on a project funded by the Centers for Disease Con-
tions in clinical practice, and most of the
ogy and Healthcare Research Program, and Depart-
trol and Prevention examining the clinical signifi-
ments of Medicine (Drs Juurlink, Laupacis, and
cance of, and management strategies for, various drug-
Redelmeier), and Pharmacy (Dr Mamdani), Univer-
sity of Toronto; and the Institute for Clinical Evalua-
Corresponding Author and Reprints: David Juurlink,
tive Sciences (Drs Juurlink, Mamdani, Laupacis, and
MD, FRCPC, G Wing 106, Sunnybrook and Women’s
pitalized patients.18-23 No studies to date
Redelmeier, and Mr Kopp), Toronto, Ontario.
College Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave,
Financial Disclosure: Dr Juurlink has served as a
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5 (e-mail: david
consultant to AdvancePCS, a provider of health
1652 JAMA, April 2, 2003—Vol 289, No. 13 (Reprinted) 2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS ADMITTED FOR DRUG TOXICITY
greatest extent to hospital stay46) of hy-
tion drugs dispensed to all Ontario resi-
poglycemia (International Classificationof Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD-9]47
sible diagnosis of digoxin toxicity (ICD-9
tient and outpatient services, and the On-
lemia (ICD-9 code 276.7). The date of
date for all analyses. Only the first ad-
years or older. These databases have been
cause we used a deterministic rather than
Control Patients
linkage rate among databases was 100%. Individual Observation Period
alysis treatments in the preceding year.
tion following his or her 66th birthday.
icity, the end of the study period, death,
Setting and Design
and maintained the matching process.
cember 31, 2000) in Ontario, Canada.
older.40 These elderly patients have uni-
Exposure to Interacting Medications
In the glyburide analysis, exposure was
trimoxazole. To test the specificity of our
Case Patients
of glyburide, we defined case patients as
Data Sources
tients but is not known to potentiate the
analysis, we identified prescriptions for
2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
(Reprinted) JAMA, April 2, 2003—Vol 289, No. 13 1653
DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS ADMITTED FOR DRUG TOXICITY
hibitor analysis, we identified prescrip-
sparing diuretics (amiloride, triamterene,
est in the 3 years prior to cohort entry.
attributable fraction equals the OR minus
Statistical Analysis
than inserted individually (TABLE 1).
scriptions in the week prior to the index
hospital admission for drug toxicity, and
Sensitivity Analyses
We repeated our analyses with a varietyof modifications to assess the robust-ness of our findings. For patients who ap-
Table 1. Covariates Included in the Multivariate Models Specific Medications Outcome (Drug) Potential Predictor or Conditions*
analysis, adjusting for exposure to other
days of the index date. As a final test of
Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; CYP, cytochrome P.
*In the primary analysis, adjustment is made for use of any of these medications in 90 days preceding the index date
unless otherwise noted. Each predictor category comprises a single term in the multivariate model.
†Other medications include amiodarone, disulfiram, fluconazole, fluvastatin, fluvoxamine, isoniazid, paroxetine, sertra-
Primary Analyses
‡Hospital admission for the drug-related toxicity of interest in 3 years preceding cohort entry. §Other medications include amiodarone, cyclosporine, diltiazem, ketoconazole, nifedipine, propafenone, quinidine, qui-
Medications include combinations of amiloride, triamterene, or spironolactone with a thiazide diuretic.
¶Any prescription for oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin in the 3 years preceding the index date.
a total of 431662 patient-years of therapy. 1654 JAMA, April 2, 2003—Vol 289, No. 13 (Reprinted) 2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS ADMITTED FOR DRUG TOXICITY
Table 2. Characteristics of Cases and Controls Glyburide With Digoxin With ACE Inhibitors With Co-trimoxazole Clarithromycin K+-Sparing Diuretics Controls Controls Controls (n = 43 766) (n = 1051) (n = 51 896) (n = 25 807)
78.2 (72.7-83.3) 80.6 (75.4-85.8) 80.5 (75.3-85.7) 78.4 (72.3-84.5)
Residence in long-term care facility, No. (%)
Drug first dispensed within 30 days, No. (%)
Medication use in preceding year, No. (%)
Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; IQR, interquartile range; K+, potassium; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The median (interquartile range [IQR])age was 71.6 (67.2-77.3) (7.2) years and
Table 3. Association Between Hospital Admission for Hypoglycemia and Use of Co-trimoxazole in Patients Receiving Glyburide
51% were women (TABLE 2). A total of No. (%) Exposed
909 patients were admitted to hospitalwith a most responsible diagnosis of hy-
Controls Univariate Odds Ratio Adjusted Odds Ratio (n = 43 766) (95% CI)* Hospitalization Within 1 Week of Exposure to Second Drug
treated with glyburide for a median (IQR)
length of hospital stay for hypoglyce-mia was 4 (2-7) days and 12 patients
Hospitalization Within 2 Weeks of Exposure to Second Drug Hospitalization Within 3 Weeks of Exposure to Second Drug
ing for other factors, cases were about 8
times more likely to have received a pre-
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. *Multivariate analysis adjusted for factors in Table 1.
prior to admission (OR, 8.5; 95% CI, 5.8-
†Comparable noninteracting drug for comparison.
12.4) (TABLE 3). As expected, we found no significant association between hy-
preceding week in patients receiving gly-
ing digoxin for a total of 513036 patient-
lar findings (Table 3). Overall, we esti-
mitted to hospital for digoxin toxicity.
mate that at least 3.3% of the hospital ad-
13.6; 95% CI, 8.8-20.8) (TABLE 4). We 2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
(Reprinted) JAMA, April 2, 2003—Vol 289, No. 13 1655
DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS ADMITTED FOR DRUG TOXICITY
the hospital because of hyperkalemia.
and other factors (Table 1) that may have
estimate that at least 7.8% of the hospi-
all, we estimate that at least 2.3% of the
ing ACE inhibitors for a total of 1222093
39.9) (TABLE 5). As expected, we found
results. In all cases, the point estimatefrom the bootstrap lies within the 95%CIs of the standard analysis. Table 4. Association Between Hospital Admission for Digoxin Toxicity and Use of Clarithromycin in Patients Receiving Digoxin No. (%) Exposed
and controls whose index date occurredwithin 30 days of commencing therapy
Controls Univariate Odds Ratio Adjusted Odds Ratio*
with either glyburide, digoxin, or an ACE
(n = 1051) (n = 51 896) Hospitalization Within 1 Week of Exposure to Second Drug
inhibitor, we found similar results.
started glyburide therapy, 7 (7.6%) alsohad received co-trimoxazole in the pre-
Hospitalization Within 2 Weeks of Exposure to Second Drug Hospitalization Within 3 Weeks of Exposure to Second Drug
Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. *Multivariate analysis adjusted for factors in Table 1.
†Comparable noninteracting drug for comparison.
(n=1772), only 20 (1.1%) had receivedclarithromycin. Finally, among cases
Table 5. Association Between Hospital Admission for Hyperkalemia and Use of
Potassium-Sparing Diuretics* in Patients Receiving Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
No. (%) Exposed Controls Univariate Odds Ratio Adjusted Odds Ratio (n = 25 807) (95% CI)† Hospitalization Within 1 Week of Exposure to Second Drug
received a potassium-sparing diuretic. Hospitalization Within 2 Weeks of Exposure to Second Drug Hospitalization Within 3 Weeks of Exposure to Second Drug Use of Medications After Hospital Discharge
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; K+, potassium.
*Single-agent potassium-sparing diuretics include amiloride, triamterene, and spironolactone. †Multivariate analysis adjusted for factors in Table 1.
‡Comparable noninteracting drug for comparison. 1656 JAMA, April 2, 2003—Vol 289, No. 13 (Reprinted) 2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS ADMITTED FOR DRUG TOXICITY
tory tests. Furthermore, the high rate of
prescriptions in the ensuing 6 months.
times fail at this important task because
This is the first study published to date
frequent warnings of a trivial nature fa-
to use population-based data to study spe-
override more significant ones.14,20,22,60
els, renal function, or adherence to medi-
cations, and the accuracy of hospital dis-
coding tends to attenuate our findings.
ology of other drug-drug interactions.
ing predictable drug-drug interactions in
should be aware of these drug-drug inter-
sible. In addition, the association with in-
controlling for the number of hospital ad-
possibly the result of a drug-drug inter-
Author Contributions: Study concept and design:
action. The reliable linkage of prescrip-
Juurlink, Mamdani, Kopp, Laupacis, Redelmeier. Acquisition of the data: Kopp. Analysis and interpretation of the data: Juurlink,
Mamdani, Kopp, Laupacis, Redelmeier.
interactions.19 As a result, our findings
Drafting of the manuscript: Juurlink, Redelmeier.
reflect only a small fraction of the prob-
Critical revision of the manuscript: Juurlink, Mamdani,Kopp, Laupacis, Redelmeier. Statistical expertise: Juurlink, Mamdani, Redelmeier.
patients, a group that is particularly sus-
Obtained funding: Mamdani, Redelmeier. Administrative, technical, or material support: Kopp,
Study supervision: Laupacis, Redelmeier. Funding/Support: Dr Juurlink was supported by a fel-
conservative estimates that consider only
lowship award from the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research and the Clinician-Scientist Program of the De-
partment of Medicine at the University of Toronto, On-tario. Dr Mamdani was supported by a New Investi-
with closer patient monitoring or the use
gator award from the New Emerging Teams (NETs)
drug toxicity. Finally, ascertainment bias
grant of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ot-tawa, Ontario. Dr Laupacis was a Senior Scientist of the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ottawa, On-
tario. Dr Redelmeier was supported by a career scien-tist award from the Ontario Ministry of Health and the
de Sousa chair in trauma at the University of Toronto. Previous Presentation: Presented at the North Ameri- can Congress of Clinical Toxicology, Palm Springs, Calif,
of introduction of new drugs and the bur-
Acknowledgment: We are grateful to Peter Austin and
of pharmacogenetics.57-59 Reliable, regu-
goxin toxicity, and hyperkalemia) are all
Deanna Rothwell for providing statistical advice, and wethank Geoff Anderson, Paula Rochon, Gary Naglie, David
Babineau, and Ed Etchells for their helpful comments. 2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
(Reprinted) JAMA, April 2, 2003—Vol 289, No. 13 1657
DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS ADMITTED FOR DRUG TOXICITY
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