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1.
Ann Pharm Fr ; 2024 Apr 23.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38663841

BACKGROUND: The current pandemic, in addition to putting a strain on healthcare systems and global economies, has exacerbated psychiatric problems and undermined the mental health of many individuals. In an Italian cohort, this phenomenon has been assessed through a retrospective study aimed at evaluating the consumption and costs of antipsychotic drugs between 2020 and 2022. METHODS: All dispensations made in local pharmacies accessible to the public have been extracted from a database called 'Sistema Tessera Sanitaria', which covers a population of approximately one million people residents in the ASL Napoli 3 Sud. Consumption data expressed in defined daily dose (DDD) and expenditure data expressed in Euro have been extrapolated. RESULTS: The results in the years 2020-2021 were relatively consistent, with consumption and expenditure decreasing slightly from 2020 to 2021. In 2022, the results showed a decrease in consumption and expenditure (2,706,951.07 DDD and €1,700,897.47) representing the reduced accessibility of patients to the healthcare facilities due to the pandemic. However, it should be noted that the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole showed an upward trend, registering an increase in consumption. CONCLUSION: Despite expectations of increased consumption of antipsychotic medications, real-world evidence indicated a different phenomenon, with the pandemic seemingly not affecting the consumption of these drugs. The difficulty in accessing care and medical appointments has probably influenced this data, masking the therapeutic needs of citizens. It will be necessary to assess in the coming years, as normal clinical activity resumes, whether there will be a growing consumption of these medications, which represent one of the main expenditure categories for the National Healthcare System.

2.
J Cancer Policy ; 40: 100473, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38508413

BACKGROUND: Biosimilar drugs offer an opportunity for all global healthcare systems because they provide significant cost savings while ensuring equal efficacy and safety in the treatment of chronic diseases. These savings can be allocated to support ongoing innovation. METHODS: An analysis of the usage of major biosimilar drugs across various therapeutic areas has been conducted within an Italian healthcare company serving a population of over one million. Data on consumption, expenditure, and the number of treated patients has been extracted from the company's databases. Finally, a comparison with the year 2021 has been performed to determine if biosimilar drug usage increased in 2022. RESULTS: In 2022, the data reveals that a substantial portion of the analysed active ingredients are being used as biosimilar drugs, except in a few residual cases. However, among the most consumed drugs, resistance still exists in the case of Adalimumab and Etanercept, for which expenditure on originator drugs exceeds 2 million euros. CONCLUSION: The 2022-2021 comparison highlights the increasing use of biosimilar drugs. This data is encouraging and suggests that in the coming months, we may achieve total utilization, which would be to the benefit of the National Health System (NHS) and the citizens who can rely on an efficient and sustainable healthcare policy that is continually improving.


Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals , Cost Savings , Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals/economics , Humans , Italy , Adalimumab/economics , Adalimumab/therapeutic use
3.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ; 17(2)2024 Jan 30.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38399398

Introduction: The emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens due to the improper use of antibiotics have become increasingly apparent in recent years. Objective: This retrospective comparative analysis aimed to assess and compare antibiotic prescription trends in Italy across two different regions based on geographic area and healthcare structure. One region represents a large hospital institution, while the other represents a populous local Italian health agency. The study also examined the impact of documented antibiotic stewardship programs and efforts to promote responsible antibiotic use at all levels, in alignment with international goals. Antibiotic consumption data were collected from the Umberto I Polyclinic Hospital and the ASL Napoli 3 South Local Health Agency. Methods: To compare consumption between regions, a standardized comparison using the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) was employed. The internal management system of each healthcare facility records all prescriptions and drug dispensations, and these data were extrapolated for this retrospective study. Results: A comparative assessment between the first half of 2022 and 2023 (January-June) highlighted a significant increase in beta-lactam antibiotic consumption, showing a twofold rise compared to the previous year's term. Regarding prescription averages, there was a noticeable increase of +29.00% in hospitalizations and +28.00% in hospital discharges within the ASL Napoli 3 South. Conversely, at Policlinico Umberto I, there was a marginal increase of +1.60% in hospitalizations and a decrease of -7.40% in hospital discharges. Conclusions: The study offers valuable insights into expenditure patterns and antibiotic consumption, underscoring the need for enhanced prescribing practices and awareness campaigns to address the issue of antibiotic resistance. The findings stress the importance of implementing international guidelines to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and ensure the effective management of infectious diseases.

4.
Ann Pharm Fr ; 82(3): 545-552, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38218426

INTRODUCTION: The escalating bacterial resistance stands as an increasingly pertinent concern, particularly in the post-pandemic era where the use of antibiotics appears to be relentlessly surging, giving rise to profound apprehensions. The substantial utilization of last-generation penicillins and cephalosporins is anticipated to imminently result in the emergence of superbugs for which therapeutic solutions will be scarce. METHODS: An analysis of antibiotic consumption in the hospital setting has been conducted in an Italian healthcare organization. Querying the internal management system facilitated the calculation of indicators and assessment of prescription trends. RESULTS: A comparison has been made between the first half of 2023 and the first half of 2022, to highlight the exponential growth in the consumption of beta-lactam antibiotics, with consumption doubling compared to the previous year's semester. Overall, considering the prescription averages, there is a prescribing growth of +29% concerning hospitalization and +28% concerning hospital discharge. However, it should be noted that the consumption of certain antibiotics such as sulphonamides and trimethoprim (-103.00%), tetracyclines (-54.00%), macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins (-50.00%) and colistin (-13.00%) decreased. CONCLUSION: This real-world evidence analysis aimed to support the justified and comprehensible global concerns regarding bacterial resistance. The extensive consumption of antibiotics will inevitably lead to the development of increasingly drug-resistant bacteria for which no antibiotic may be efficacious. National programs addressing antibiotic resistance and the awareness of all healthcare personnel must be accorded the utmost priority to enhance consumption data and, consequently, safeguard future human survival.


Anti-Bacterial Agents , Bacterial Infections , Humans , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Penicillins , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Bacterial Infections/drug therapy , Delivery of Health Care , Italy
5.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38231416

Biosimilar drugs offer an opportunity for all global healthcare systems because they provide significant cost savings while ensuring equal efficacy and safety in the treatment of chronic diseases. These savings can be allocated to support ongoing innovation. An analysis of the usage of major biosimilar drugs across various therapeutic areas has been conducted within an Italian healthcare company serving a population of over one million. Data on consumption, expenditure, and the number of treated patients has been extracted from the company's databases. Finally, a comparison with the year 2021 has been performed to determine if biosimilar drug usage increased in 2022. In 2022, the data reveals that a substantial portion of the analysed active ingredients are being used as biosimilar drugs, except in a few residual cases. However, among the most consumed drugs, resistance still exists in the case of Adalimumab and Etanercept, for which expenditure on originator drugs exceeds 2 million euros. The 2022-2021 comparison highlights the increasing use of biosimilar drugs. This data is encouraging and suggests that in the coming months, we may achieve total utilization, which would be to the benefit of the National Healthcare System (NHS) and the citizens who can rely on an efficient and sustainable healthcare policy that is continually improving.

6.
J Diabetes Metab Disord ; 22(2): 1635-1643, 2023 Dec.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37975093

Objectives: The increased issuance and distribution of new agents for type 2 diabetes mellitus, due to relaxed prescribing rules, has resulted not only in a greater proximity of treatments to the patient, as envisioned by post-Covidio 19 European policies, but also in an unexpected increase in healthcare spending. Methods: An analysis of a database called "Health Card" was performed in order to evaluate all prescriptions for the new classes of medications used for type 2 diabetes. Results: New legislation called "note 100" was introduced in early 2022, outlining the eligibility of certain categories of drugs used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus for direct prescription by primary care physicians in Italy. This investigation therefore delves into an examination of the prescribing patterns related to these drugs, contrasting the year 2021, prior to the implementation of Note 100, with the year 2022, following the incorporation of the new legislation. The result resulted in an exponential increase in prescriptions and consumption (+ 38%) and increased healthcare spending of more than three million euros for these drug categories. Conclusion: This analysis highlights how regulation on the one hand leads to facilitating prescribing to meet a population need that is not fully satisfied, but on the other hand leads to increased prescribing and increased health care expenditures that may likely mask phenomena of prescribing inappropriateness.

7.
Riv Psichiatr ; 58(6): 284-292, 2023.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38032032

BACKGROUND: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychological disorder that affects the development of children and adolescents. The causes are not fully known although the origin of the disorder appears to depend on a combination of environmental, social, biochemical, and genetic factors. There is substantial evidence the Covid-19 pandemic caused an increase in mental disorders and therefore in spending related to the treatment of diseases. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in two international centers of very different origins and cultures, one in Europe (Italy) and one in Central America (Costa Rica), to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on ADHD medication prescriptions and its costs. The analysis resulting from mining the databases in each individual nation allowed for the actual amounts of defined daily dose (DDD) prescribed and dispensed between the years 2019 and 2022 of methylphenidate and atomoxetine. RESULTS: The data show that the Italian ADHD medications DDDs and expenditure are aligned with the results in Costa Rica. It was found that from the year 2019 to the year 2022, both methylphenidate and atomoxetine prescriptions grew steadily, confirming a much higher incidence of the condition than in pre-pandemic periods. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the global pandemic had an influence on the increase in the number of ADHD medication prescriptions. Individuals with ADHD are a population of individuals who may be particularly vulnerable to the distress caused by the pandemic, restrictions, and severe physical removal measures that have occurred in recent years.


Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity , COVID-19 , Central Nervous System Stimulants , Methylphenidate , Child , Adolescent , Humans , United States , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/drug therapy , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/epidemiology , Atomoxetine Hydrochloride/therapeutic use , Pandemics , Central Nervous System Stimulants/therapeutic use , Retrospective Studies , COVID-19/epidemiology , Methylphenidate/therapeutic use , Prescriptions
8.
Cureus ; 15(10): e47834, 2023 Oct.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38021647

Introduction Pharmacovigilance plays a crucial role in evaluating and monitoring the safety of medicines, which is essential for preventing harm to patients and improving public health. This study aims to compare the pharmacovigilance systems of Costa Rica and Italy and assess the safety profile of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in both countries. Methods Data were collected from the official pharmacovigilance platforms in Costa Rica and Italy. Adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) were categorized by system organ class. Reports of suspected AEFIs associated with COVID-19 vaccines were analyzed for the period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. Results Both countries achieved high vaccination rates, with 84.9% in Italy and 92.9% in Costa Rica. A higher proportion of AEFIs occurred in females in both countries, with 53% and 65% in Naples and Costa Rica, respectively. Most AEFIs were observed in individuals aged 18-64 years. The rate of serious adverse reactions was lower in both countries than the international average. However, Naples reported a higher incidence of serious events per 100,000 inhabitants. Discussion The study sheds light on the importance of vaccine safety profiling and the significance of a comprehensive understanding of vaccine safety and effectiveness, specific population data, and collaborative strategies to mitigate and improve safety. Additionally, the study highlighted the significance of considering sex and gender when evaluating vaccine safety and efficacy, as sex-specific differences may impact vaccine outcomes. Conclusion Continuous pharmacovigilance efforts, collaborative approaches, and comprehensive data analysis are critical in ensuring vaccine safety and efficacy and safeguarding global public health. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the importance of proactive measures in addressing emerging challenges in vaccine safety and rollout programs worldwide.

9.
Riv Psichiatr ; 58(5): 220-225, 2023.
Article It | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37807867

INTRODUCTION: The ongoing pandemic has not only placed significant strain on healthcare systems and global economies but has also exacerbated psychiatric issues, undermining the mental well-being of countless individuals. It is widely recognized that epidemic events, particularly periods of lockdown, heighten the risk of developing anxiety disorders, depression, and aggressive behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an Italian cohort, a retrospective study was conducted to examine the consumption and costs of antipsychotic medications during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically in the years 2020-2022. Utilizing a database known as the "Sistema Tessere Sanitaria", data on medication dispensations from publicly accessible community pharmacies were extracted, covering a population of approximately one million individuals. RESULTS: The findings for the years 2020-2021 showed relatively stable patterns, with overall consumption and expenditure slightly decreasing from 2020 to 2021. However, it is worth noting that the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole exhibited an opposite trend, with an increase in consumption. Despite expectations of heightened antipsychotic medication use, real-world evidence indicates a different phenomenon, suggesting that the pandemic might not have significantly influenced the consumption of these medications. CONCLUSIONS: The limited accessibility to healthcare and medical appointments likely played a role in this observation, potentially masking the therapeutic needs of the population. It will be crucial to monitor the situation in the upcoming years, as normal clinical activities resume, to determine whether there will be an upsurge in the consumption of antipsychotic drugs, which represent a significant portion of the National Healthcare System's expenditure.


Antipsychotic Agents , COVID-19 , Psychological Distress , Substance-Related Disorders , Humans , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Pandemics , Retrospective Studies , Communicable Disease Control , Substance-Related Disorders/drug therapy
10.
Cureus ; 15(7): e41414, 2023 Jul.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37546059

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:  The increasing emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens resulting from inappropriate antibiotic usage have become more evident in recent years, particularly with the rising incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Since joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Costa Rica can now compare its healthcare system with other countries, and similarities have been noted with Italy regarding health indicators. Both nations have universal healthcare systems, covering their entire populations, and hold similar positions in the Human Development Index (HDI). Consequently, the goal is to compare antibiotic prescribing and consumption patterns to collaboratively develop strategies against bacterial resistance. METHODS:  In order to compare antibiotic consumption between regions, a standardized contrast was utilized, specifically using the defined daily dose (DDD). An Orthogonal Contrast test was performed to test the means, followed by the application of the Student's t-test on these contrasts. This analysis aimed to assess the potential influence of regions on DDD values. Antibiotic consumption data were collected between January 2021 and December 2022 from the Local Health Authority of Naples 3 South (LHANS) in Italy and IMS Health, Q Quintiles, and VIA by way of (IQVIA) reports in Costa Rica. RESULTS:  LHANS shows a considerable disparity in gross expenditure compared to Italy's overall expenditure, while the private sector of Costa Rica exhibits even lower gross expenditure than Italy. Antibiotic consumption in Italy exceeds that of Costa Rica, with Costa Rica's consumption amounting to 47.70% of Italy's total consumption. Additionally, LHANS exhibited a 22.43% higher gross expenditure compared to the Campania region, emphasizing the variability in antibiotic usage within the same country The results indicated no statistically significant differences in antibiotic consumption between the regions, as none of the null hypotheses were rejected. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides valuable insights into expenditure patterns and antibiotic consumption, highlighting the need for improved prescribing practices and awareness campaigns to address the issue of antibiotic resistance. The findings emphasize the importance of implementing international guidelines to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and ensure the effective management of infectious diseases.

11.
Curr Probl Cardiol ; 48(10): 101857, 2023 Oct.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37301491

Cardiovascular diseases are emerging as a major cause of death and hospitalization in the Western world. For many years, a number of medicines have been placed on the market, in well-established and safe use for antihypertensive therapy. The various classes of antihypertensives in established use include, ACE inhibitors, as monotherapy or in combination with diuretics or calcium antagonists, sartans, calcium antagonists, beta blockers, and diuretics. Among these medicines classes there are differences in mechanism of action, efficacy in reducing blood pression, tolerability, and cost. In fact, there are wide differences in the monthly cost of therapy within each class and among the classes themselves. In this analysis we describe an example about the prescribing trends of antihypertensive drugs at a European sample represented by an Italian health care company of about 1 million inhabitants. Aspects of pharmacoeconomics, pharmacoutilization, and pharmacological differences are described.


Antihypertensive Agents , Hypertension , Humans , Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Hypertension/drug therapy , Calcium/therapeutic use , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use , Diuretics/therapeutic use
12.
Antioxidants (Basel) ; 12(6)2023 Jun 11.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37371984

Crocetin (CCT) is a natural saffron-derived apocarotenoid that possesses healthy properties such as anti-adipogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Lipolysis is enhanced in obesity and correlates with a pro-inflammatory, pro-oxidant state. In this context, we aimed to investigate whether CCT affects lipolysis. To evaluate CCT's possible lipolytic effect, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with CCT10µM at day 5 post-differentiation. Glycerol content and antioxidant activity were assessed using colorimetric assays. Gene expression was measured using qRT-PCR to evaluate the effect of CCT on key lipolytic enzymes and on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression. Total lipid accumulation was assessed using Oil Red O staining. CCT10µM decreased glycerol release from 3T3-L1 adipocytes and downregulated adipose tissue triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and perilipin-1, but not hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), suggesting an anti-lipolytic effect. CCT increased catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, thus showing an antioxidant effect. In addition, CCT exhibited an anti-inflammatory profile, i.e., diminished inducible NOS (NOS2) and resistin expression, while enhanced the expression of adiponectin. CCT10µM also decreased intracellular fat and C/EBPα expression (a transcription factor involved in adipogenesis), thus revealing an anti-adipogenic effect. These findings point to CCT as a promising biocompound for improving lipid mobilisation in obesity.

13.
Recenti Prog Med ; 114(5): 277-283, 2023 05.
Article It | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37114609

Antibiotic resistance does not seem to be stopping despite international policies that have been aiming to combat this phenomenon for more than 10 years. The World health organization (Who) seeing the relentless growth of the issue has reiterated its recommendations that have been implemented at the national level. In fact, in Italy the new National plan against antibiotic-resistance 2022-2025 (Pncar 2022-2025) is in full operation. At Asl Napoli 3 Sud, which boasts a population of more than 1 million people, an analysis was carried out regarding antibiotic consumption in the first six months of 2022. The results showed consumption deviating from the regional and national average, thus suggesting that swift actions are needed to curb overprescription by physicians as much as possible. This work also aims to raise awareness among physicians and health care professionals of compliance with the requirements of regulatory agencies and scientific societies, so that a virtuous path toward a decisive change of pace can be taken.


Anti-Bacterial Agents , Public Policy , Humans , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Italy , World Health Organization
15.
Rev. peru. biol. (Impr.) ; 30(2)abr. 2023.
Article Es | LILACS-Express | LILACS | ID: biblio-1515500

Este trabajo documenta el primer registro de anomalías cromáticas en el pecarí de collar (Pecari tajacu) y el tercero en el mapache (Procyon lotor) para México. Los hallazgos se realizaron durante el monitoreo realizado entre el 2009 y el 2021, utilizando cámaras-trampa, principalmente en la ecorregión de la Sierra Madre del Sur del estado de Guerrero, México. Procyon lotor fue registrado entre el 5 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2019, en vegetación riparia de bosque tropical caducifolio (17°47'35"N, 98°39'59"W, 1134 m de altitud). Mientras que Pecari tajacu se registró el 7 de junio y el 22 de julio del 2021 en una brecha saca cosecha abandonada (17°38'12"N, 100°40'50"W; 1532 m de altitud).


This paper documents the first record of chromatic anomalies in Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu) and the third in the Raccoon (Procyon lotor) for Mexico. The findings were made during monitoring conducted between 2009 and 2021, using camera traps, primarily in the Sierra Madre del Sur ecoregion of the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Procyon lotor was recorded between November 5th and December 1st, 2019, in riparian vegetation of a deciduous tropical forest (17°47'35"N, 98°39'59"W, 1134 m altitude). Meanwhile, Pecari tajacu was recorded on June 7th and July 22nd, 2021, in an abandoned crop clearing (17°38'12"N, 100°40'50"W; 1532 m altitude).

17.
Clin Drug Investig ; 42(12): 1065-1074, 2022 Dec.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36274082

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused millions of deaths worldwide. The mRNA vaccines prevented the figure from being more severe. The objective of this retrospective study is to evaluate the safety of COVID-19 vaccines by analyzing the adverse events following immunization (AEFIs). METHODS: A retrospective observational pharmacovigilance study was conducted, based on the collection of reports of suspected AEFIs reported between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 at the Naples 3 local health authority. AEFIs were stratified and described according to mRNA vaccine, demographics, clinical status, description of AEFI, and degree of severity. In 2021, local health authority Asl Naples 3 South received 1164 reports of suspected adverse events that occurred following the administration of mRNA vaccines. RESULTS: During the reporting period, 746 reports were related to the Comirnaty vaccine (64.1%), 281 to the Vaxzevria vaccine (24.1%), 107 to the Spikevax vaccine (9.2%), and 30 to the Jcovden vaccine (2.6%); 89.3% of the reports were classified as not serious (N = 1039 reports), the remaining 10.7% as serious (N = 125 reports). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective pharmacovigilance study demonstrates that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are safe in all population groups.


Pharmacovigilance is an activity that ensures the safety of health care treatments. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the administration of vaccines whose efficacy and safety is to be evaluated. In the year 2021, an analysis of all reported adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) to the vaccine was conducted on a sample of about 1 million people with the aim of understanding efficacy and safety. All adverse events were divided by age, sex, type of reaction, and severity. Serious reactions were divided into subcategories to report the most common critical issues. At the conclusion of the work, it can be seen that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are safe but can give serious cardiovascular (12% of the total number of serious reports) and neurological (one serious case that led to the development of Guillain Barré syndrome) side effects that need to be monitored by medical personnel.


COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Vaccines , Humans , Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects , Pharmacovigilance , Retrospective Studies , RNA, Messenger/genetics , SARS-CoV-2 , Vaccination/adverse effects , Vaccines/adverse effects , mRNA Vaccines
18.
Hosp Pharm ; 57(5): 593-595, 2022 Oct.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36081543

The therapeutic adherence to drug therapies is a crucial aspect for the proper management of chronicity. Over time, we are witnessing the evolution of the concept of adherence: today the patient must play an increasingly active role in the entire process in order for the pharmacological therapy to be fully successful. Poor therapeutic adherence can cause a bad success of the treatment path and, at the same time, lead to higher expenses. In this regard, it is necessary that each health company must undertake dedicated and organized paths. At the Asl Napoli 3 Sud an analysis of adherence in the year 2020 was carried out regarding the major pharmacological classes prescribed: anti-hypertensives, antidepressants, statins, anti-diabetes, and drugs for bpco and osteoporosis. The results show a very poor adherence where, at best, we have an adherence of about 50% of the therapies dispensed. This analysis shows how it is necessary to share actions with doctors and patients themselves to try to stem this phenomenon that is harmful both therapeutically and economically. Thus, it becomes essential to search for possible strategies for improvement and include them in the Diagnostic-Therapeutic-Assistance Pathways (PDTA).

20.
Recenti Prog Med ; 113(3): 198-201, 2022 03.
Article It | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35315450

BACKGROUND: The collection and management of spontaneous reports of suspected adverse drug reactions represents a passive pharmacovigilance method for post-marketing drug safety surveillance, as it is a practical and rapid way to detect a potential warning sign. We performed an in-depth retrospective analysis of suspected adverse reaction reports in the National Pharmacovigilance Network (RNF) for the first eight months of 2019 (pre-pandemic period), 2020 (global pandemic covid-19 onset), 2021 (first post-pandemic period due to vaccine phase). METHODS: The reports of suspected adverse drug reactions were extrapolated from the National Network of Pharmacovigilance. Data from Italy, the Campania Region, and the Local Health Unit Naples 3 South were compared. A retrospective qualitative analysis of demographics data, clinical status, suspected drugs, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) description and its degree of seriousness were collected. RESULTS: We observed 1071 ADRs, of which 281 were serious; of these, 39 led to hospitalization, 779 were not serious, and 2 caused death. In the pre-pandemic period, chemotherapy drugs most frequently induced ADRs. The year 2020, in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, saw a clear reduction in the number of drug reports, compared to 2019 and 2021, both at national and regional level, and at ASL Napoli 3 Sud. A reduction in 2020 that ranges from -40.75% to -72.56% at the national and regional level, respectively; reaching as much as -88.13% at the local level in the health authority under analysis. In 2021, on the other hand, there is a clear increase in the number of reports, which numerically exceed even those in 2019 by +194.71% in Italy, +15.25% in the Campania Region, and +90.68% in the Local Health Unit Naples 3 South. CONCLUSIONS: The covid-19 pandemic has affected the trend in the number of reports of suspected adverse drug reactions. This is for several reasons: first, frontline exposed health care workers have been able to devote less time to pharmacovigilance activities to cope with the health emergency, second, since the start of the covid-19 vaccination campaign, health care workers have been more focused on reporting suspected adverse reactions to vaccines. Clinicians should beware of these adverse effects and monitor early warning signs carefully.


COVID-19 , Pharmacovigilance , COVID-19 Vaccines , Humans , Pandemics , Retrospective Studies
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