Causality assessment and the severity of the adverse drug reactions in tertiary care hospital: a pharmacovigilance study

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) constitute a major clinical problem in terms of human suffering and increased health care costs. To study the adverse drug reactions reported in a tertiary care hospital and study of causality assessment and severity of adverse drug reaction (ADR) cases reported.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted as part of pharmacovigilance program over 12months between September 2015 and August 2016. Adverse drug reactions reported from hospital were filled into Suspected ADR - CDSCO forms and submitted to pharmacovigilance unit. Causal relationship was assessed and categorized by Naranjo’s algorithm and WHO - UMC causality scale. The severity of each ADR was assessed using Modified Hartwig and Siegel scale.Results: Total 120 cases were reported over 12 months. Among them, 66% were in males and 55% were in females. The majority of ADRs were due to antimicrobial agents (40.78%) followed by haematinics (12%) and anti-epileptics (10%). Maximum number of patients (30.25%) reported with dermatological manifestations. Highest number of ADRs was reported from the department of medicine (45%). As per Naranjo’s scale, 54% reports were assessed as probable and 46% classified as possible. Majority of cases were mild to moderate in severity.Conclusions: The pattern of ADRs reported in our hospital is similar with the pattern of studies conducted in other hospitals elsewhere. This study provides a database of ADRs due to commonly used drugs in our hospital, which will help clinicians for their optimum and safe use. Hence effective pharmacovigilance is required for the use of these drugs and their safety assessment