An Epidemiological Study on Adverse Drug Reactions in Indian Population: Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) has been implicated as a leading cause of considerable morbidity and mortality. The raise of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in present day setting in India is high due to many reasons like polypharmacy, medication errors, medication adherence, lacking in reporting. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and different parameters regarding ADRs in Indian population. We performed a review study of all epidemiological studies quantifying ADRs in Indian setting that were published between 2003 and 2017. Included studies also assessed the number of patients who were hospitalized due to an ADR, studies that assessed the number of patients who developed an ADR during hospitalization. In total, 25 Indian articles were studied and the parameters analysed were prevalence of ADR, causality, severity, age, gender, class of drugs mostly effected. The percentages of ADRs in total were found to be major age groups involved. According to Naranjo’s causality assessment scale 44.93% of patients were found to have possible relation with drug. As per WHO scale the results obtained indicate probable (44.57%) as highest. As per Hartwig and Siegel severity assessment scale most of the reactions were mild (48.85%). According to Schumock and Thornton preventability scale the reactions are not preventable (41.77%). The major class of drugs leading to ADRs were reported as Antibiotics (35.33%).