RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Adverse drug reaction (ADR) monitoring is crucial in ensuring patient and pharmaceutical safety. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding ADR reporting trend pattern in Ghana. This study, therefore, aimed to analyse and characterise trends in ADRs reported in Ghana over 16 years. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed individual case safety retorts (ICSRs) received by the Ghana National Pharmacovigilance Centre from 2005 to 2021. Jointpoint regression was used to estimate age-adjusted ADR rates, stratified by sex and patient characteristics, suspected medication groups, clinical indications, and the manifestation of ADRs. To evaluate trends over time, the percentage annualised estimator was used. RESULTS: We identified a total of 6853 ICSRs from 2005 to 2021. The age-adjusted ICSR rates increased significantly from 2005 to 2019, with an annual increase of 18.6%; however, there was a downward trend from 2019 to 2021, although not statistically significant. Males accounted for the majority (64.3%) of ICSRs compared to females (35.7%). The suspected medication group most frequently associated with ADRs were antiprotozoals accounting for 35.6% of all ICSRs, while vascular disorders (21.0%) were the most commonly observed clinical indication in relation to ADRs. An increase in ICSR rates was noted for gastrointestinal disorders with an annual increase of 32.5% (95% CI, 20.6-45.6%; p < 0.001). Amodiaquine was the most commonly suspected medication (8.9%) associated with ADRs, while pruritus (7.2%) was the most frequently reported preferred term. CONCLUSION: The study provides a detailed overview of ICSRs received by the Ghana National Pharmacovigilance Centre over the past 16 years and demonstrates an increasing trend of ADR-related medication use as well as clinical indications over time. The findings of this study call for multifaceted strategies aimed at reducing the risks associated with inappropriate drug use, and enhancing knowledge of medication safety, thus improving healthcare service delivery and patient safety.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The impact of foodborne trematode infections is gaining recognition worldwide. Clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis are some of the most neglected tropical foodborne diseases that pose a significant threat to human health. Persistent or chronic infection of Clonorchis/Opisthorchis often leads to hepatobiliary diseases including cholangitis, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, hepatic fibrosis, cholangiocarcinoma and liver cancer. Two cases of Clonorchis/Opisthorchis infection in humans in the Central Region of Ghana are reported. CASE PRESENTATION: Eggs suspected to be from Clonorchis sinensis or Opisthorchis species were detected in the stools of a 29-year-old Ghanaian woman and an 18-year-old Ghanaian woman in two clinics in the Central Region of Ghana. The diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms as well as detection of the eggs of the trematode in the faeces of the patients using light microscopy after staining with Giemsa or Ziehl-Neelsen stains. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge these are the first documented cases of Clonorchis sinensis or Opisthorchis species infection in Ghana. The detection of this infection in these patients in Ghana should be of concern to clinicians because the infection can be easily misdiagnosed since the accompanying clinical symptoms are malaria-like. Consideration should therefore be given to Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis species when diagnosing patients presenting with malaria-like symptoms.
