ADR Reporting

An Overview of Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Reporting

By, Siti Fauziah bt Abu

Adverse Drug reaction (ADRs) is define as a response to a drug which is noxious and unintended, and which occurs at doses normally used in man for the prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy of disease, or for the modification of physiological function (WHO 2002). It is important in reporting all the cases that related to ADRs especially for new medicines for which the safety profile has not yet been completely established. It is reported that ADRs was found to be the 4th-6th largest cause for mortality in the USA and has accounted for approximately 10% of hospital admissions in European countries (Lazarou et al. 1998; WHO 2002). Thus, this may cause an increment in the length of hospital stay and also medical costs due to the drug complications (White et al. 1999).

In our Department of Health Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya Federal Territory; starting from year 2008 until March 2011 we have received only 155 ADR reports (Chart 1). The most reported suspected drugs were from Antihypertensives (37%) group, followed by Antiinfectives (16%) and Analgesics and Painkillers (6%) (Chart 2). The trend was found to be similar with the National data by MADRAC 2010.

To increase the number of ADR reported, Pharmaceutical Services Division, Department of Health Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya Federal Territory have conducted several activities and workshops to raise awareness on the drug safety problem and to convince health professionals that reporting of adverse reactions is their moral and professional obligation. It is hope that the continuous evaluation of their benefit and harm will help to achieve the ultimate goal to make safer and more effective treatment available to patients.

Online Report ADR here