Umeå University's logo

umu.sePublications
Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Utilization pattern of metamizole in northern Sweden and risk estimate of agranulocytosis
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Pharmacology.
2002 (English)In: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, ISSN 1053-8569, E-ISSN 1099-1557, Vol. 11, no 3, p. 239-245Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out in order to investigate the utilization pattern of metamizole to better estimate the quantitative risk of agranulocytosis since a cluster of such cases have been observed in Sweden. METHODS: Cases of agranulocytosis submitted to the Swedish Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee (SADRAC) between 1996 and 1999 were identified. Based on the utilization pattern of metamizole in inpatients at three hospitals and in outpatients in two counties in northern Sweden risk estimates of agranulocytosis during metamizole treatment were estimated. The utilization of metamizole was investigated by scanning 3567 case records at 10 hospital departments as well as stored prescriptions at six pharmacies during a 3-month study period. RESULTS: Ten cases of agranulocytosis during treatment with metamizole have been reported to SADRAC over the period 1996 to 1999. During the 3-month study period metamizole was prescribed to 666 (19%) inpatients. Of these, approximately 96% received the drug for less than 1 week, 7.2% had used the drug previously. At the participating pharmacies 112 metamizole prescriptions for outpatients were found. The drug was prescribed in 34% for less than 1 week, in 28% for 7-15 days, and in 38% for more than 15 days. The mean prescribed daily dose was 2.7 g. Given certain assumptions including the actual amounts prescribed the calculated risks of agranulocytosis would be approximately one out of every 31,000 metamizole-treated inpatients and one of every 1400 metamizole-treated outpatients. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that in most inpatients the use of metamizole in northern Sweden was within the approved indications for the drug. However, a considerable number of outpatients received the drug for a longer time than recommended and this may carry an increased risk for developing agranulocytosis.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2002. Vol. 11, no 3, p. 239-245
Keywords [en]
metamizole, agranulocytosis, drug utilization, pharmacoepidemiology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-4555DOI: 10.1002/pds.697PubMedID: 12051124OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-4555DiVA, id: diva2:143703
Available from: 2005-04-29 Created: 2005-04-29 Last updated: 2019-11-25Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions: Possibilities and limitations
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions: Possibilities and limitations
2005 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) constitute a major problem in society and in drug therapy. They are a common cause of short-term hospitalization, prolonged hospitalization and death. Spontaneous reporting of ADRs remains one the most effective methods for detecting new and serious drug reactions. In Sweden physicians are legally required to report fatal and serious ADRs. We know from previous studies that there is a substantial degree of under-reporting of ADRs also in Sweden.

Attitudes towards reporting of ADRs among physicians in the northern region of Sweden were investigated using a questionnaire. The most important factor for not reporting ADRs among physicians and general practioners in our region was that the reaction was considered to be well known. However, their attitudes could also allow for a considerable rate of under-reporting.

The effect on the reporting rate when nurses received instruction and were encouraged to report ADRs was studied. During a 12-month study period, 18 ADR reports with a total number of 22 ADRs were sent in by the nurses participating in the study to test nurses as reporters of ADRs.

Using the Swedish ADR database, we calculated the risk of agranulocytosis associated with the use of metamizole by using consumption data from the case records of scrutinized patients’ and stored prescriptions. Over the period from 1996 to 1999, ten cases of agranulocytosis during treatment with metamizole were reported to SADRAC. Metamizole was prescribed to 666 (19%) inpatients during the 3-month study period and 112 prescriptions were identified at the participating pharmacies. Thirty-eight percent of them indicated treatment for more than 15 days. Making certain assumptions, the calculated risk of agranulocytosis was one out of every 31 000 inpatients and one out of every 1400 outpatients. The degree of under-reporting of serious ADRs was studied in five hospitals. More than 1300 case records were scrutinized and among these we found 107 cases that according to current rules for ADR reporting, should have been reported. Only fifteen of these were found in the SADRAC database, indicating a under-reporting rate of 86%.The effect on the reporting rate of ADRs was studied in an intervention study in which a small economical inducement was given to those who reported ADRs.

The effect of a small economical stimulation to increase the reporting rate was studied. From the intervention area we received 62 suspected ADRs compared with 50 from the control area. The increase in the number of reports was 59% compared with an unchanged reporting rate from the control area.

The physicians in northern Sweden have a relatively good knowledge of the existing rules for ADR reporting. Nurses could play an important role in detecting and reporting suspected ADRs.

The risk of developing an metamizole induced agranulocytosis is considerably increased if metamizole is given to patients for a longer time than recommended. The rate of reported ADRs is very low, also for serious and fatal reactions. An increase in the reporting rate of suspected ADRs was observed during study period.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Farmakologi och klinisk neurovetenskap, 2005. p. 74
Series
Umeå University medical dissertations, ISSN 0346-6612 ; 961
Keywords
Pharmacology, adverse drug reactions, spontaneous reporting, metamizole, general practitioners, hospital physicians, under-reporting, economical inducement, nurses., Farmakologi
National Category
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Research subject
Clinical Pharmacology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-525 (URN)91-7305-868-8 (ISBN)
Public defence
2005-06-03, Föreläsningssal E04, 6A, Norrlands Universitetssjukhus, Umeå, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2005-04-29 Created: 2005-04-29 Last updated: 2019-11-25Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Other links

Publisher's full textPubMed

Authority records

Bäckström, MartinDahlqvist, Rune

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Bäckström, MartinDahlqvist, Rune
By organisation
Pharmacology
In the same journal
Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn
Total: 403 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf