Adverse Drug Reactions, Its Consequences and Contributing Factors among Peoples Taking Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy at Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency virus remains a major global health problem and is the leading cause of death from an infectious disease worldwide. The expansion of antiretroviral therapy has yielded remarkable achievements in the era of the disease. There are now many antiretroviral drugs available and so there are a number of possible drug combinations. Knowledge of antiretroviral toxicities is very crucial in choosing among these combinations. Objective: The study aims to assess adverse drug reactions, its consequences and predisposing factors among people on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy at Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A two year retrospective cohort study was employed at Jimma University Specialized Hospital, South west Ethiopia. Data was collected through medical record reviews of peoples using a medical card. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 16.0. Binary and multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine the association between different variables and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions. Comparison of factors contributing for adverse drug reactions was shown using odds ratio. Statistical significance was considered at p-value <0.05. Adverse drug reactions management and consequences of the reactions were described. Results: Among 390 peoples, 22.56% developed at least one adverse drug reactions, Peripheral neuropathy and skin rash being frequent in the cohort. Females were 2.3 times more likely to develop adverse drug reactions than males. The likelihood of reporting adverse drug reactions was more than three in educated peoples than uneducated ones. Pregnant women were 2.5 times more likely to develop adverse drug reactions than non pregnant women in the study. The adverse drug reactions were also high in divorced individuals. The use of cotrimoxazole and fluconazole prophylaxis had preventive effect against adverse drug reactions in the study. 40%of all reactions were treated and 52.27% of peoples with adverse drug reactions faced at least one type of negative consequences. Overall, the probability of being risk free decreased over time. Conclusion: The prevalence of adverse drug reactions in peoples on highly active antiretroviral therapy at Jimma University Specialized Hospital was high. Female sex, high educational level and being pregnant significantly increased the risk, which alarms the need of pharmaceutical care. Only less than half of the reactions were treated and more than half of peoples who developed adverse drug reactions had experienced at least one type of negative consequences.