Evaluation of adverse drug reaction reports in adult patients on antiretroviral therepy in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching hospital Zaria-Nigeria

Abstract

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced morbidity and mortality in HIV patients. In Nigeria, there are over 400,000 patients on ART in over 200 secondary and tertiary hospitals. However, data on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) due to ARTs are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate ADRs reports in adult patients on ART in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria (ABUTH). The study was a retrospective cross-sectional study on randomly selected adult patients on ART with ADR reports in Nasara Clinic of ABUTH, between January, 2012 and December, 2013. Medical records and ADR reports of the patients were reviewed and fitted into a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0. The study reviewed the records of 302 patients on ART as per the sample size out of a total of 1405 patients in the register within the study period. Of the 302 patients, 109 (36.1%) were reported to have at least one form of ADR, majority of whom were females 65 (59.6%). The most common ADRs were cough (34%), skin rash (44%), headache (20%) and diarrhea (10%), with few cases of anemia (5.5%), lipodostrophy (3.6%) and neuropathy (1.8%). 55% and 98% had concomitant disease and medications respectively. The actions taken to manage the ADR were; specific treatment of the ADR (69.7%), change of ARV regimen (22%) and few cases of hospitalization (6.4%). In conclusion, the study revealed the occurrence of ADRs in adult patients on ART in ABUTH. These reactions occurred within few months of medication, and were found to be related to age, social factor, ART regimen, gender, as well as other concomitant diseases and medications. Close monitoring is required to prevent severe ADR and improve adherence.

Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy, adverse drug reaction, cough, retrospective