Medication safety in a pandemic: A multicentre point prevalence study of QTc monitoring of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19.
J Clin Pharm Ther
; 46(5): 1308-1311, 2021 Oct.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1220012
ABSTRACT
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE:
A pandemic can strain all aspects of the healthcare system, including the ability to monitor the safety of medication use. Reviewing the adequacy of medication safety practices during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to informing responses to future pandemics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate medication safety practices at a height of both COVID-19 cases and hydroxychloroquine use.METHODS:
This was a multicentre observational point prevalence study. Adult inpatients receiving hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 between March 22 and 28, 2020 were included. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients receiving appropriate QTc monitoring. Secondary outcomes included QTc prolongation, early discontinuation of hydroxychloroquine and ventricular arrhythmias. RESULTS ANDDISCUSSION:
A total of 59% (167/284) of patients treated with hydroxychloroquine received appropriate QTc monitoring. QTc prolongation occurred in 25%. Hydroxychloroquine was prematurely discontinued in 1.4% of patients, all due to QTc prolongation. Ventricular arrhythmia occurred in 1.1%. WHAT IS NEW ANDCONCLUSION:
Medication safety practices were suboptimal with regard to hydroxychloroquine monitoring at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Preparation for future pandemics should devote considerable attention to medication safety.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
/
Electrocardiography
/
Patient Safety
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
/
Hydroxychloroquine
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
J Clin Pharm Ther
Journal subject:
Pharmacy
/
Therapeutics
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Jcpt.13429
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