Drug-related problems identified by clinical pharmacists among COPD Exacerbation patients

What is it about?

The ultimate goal of any disease treatment plan is to achieve the optimum therapeutic outcomes and improve patients’ quality of life avoiding additional harm. Although pharmacological therapies are considered crucial for the management of diseases, these might be associated with treatment-related problems (TRPs). These are known as events or circumstance associated with the patient management that can actually or possibly impede the ability to attain the defined goals of treatment. Unresolved TRPs can increase morbidity and mortality, reduce the patients’ quality of life, increase emergency department and outpatient clinic visits, prolong the length of hospital stay and increase the economic burden on healthcare systems.

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Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Despite TRPs have been widely investigated, evidences remain scarce among patients with COPD, particularly during exacerbation requiring hospital admission. Among the middle east and north Africa region, Jordan had the second-highest COPD prevalence with a rate of 5.4%. Despite this, there is lack of clinical research among these patients in general, with no studies ever investigating the burden of AECOPD in particular. This study aimed to assess and categorize TRPs among patients’ cases hospitalized with AECOPD in Jordan, and to estimate their potential cost saving and cost avoidance.

Perspectives