Indicators for preventable drug related morbidity: application in primary care.

AIM

To apply in practice a series of validated indicators for preventable drug related morbidity (PDRM).

DESIGN

A pilot study to identify retrospectively potential PDRM events over a 2 year 3 month time frame using the MIQUEST computer software program.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING

The electronic patient record of all patients aged 18 years and over in nine English general practices.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The number of potential PDRM events identified, as defined by the indicators.

RESULTS

Five hundred and seven potential PDRM events were identified from 49 658 electronic patient records, giving an overall incidence of 1.0%. A small number of the indicators (n = 4) accounted for approximately 60% of the events, while for many indicators few events were identified. The most common events related to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with congestive heart failure or hypertension, lack of monitoring in patients prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and the use of hypnotic-anxiolytic agents.

CONCLUSIONS

A small number of indicators contributed to the majority of the PDRM events. Interrogation of electronic patient records in primary care using computerised queries shows potential for detecting PDRM.