OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence, incidence and associated factors of ADR among Heart failure (HF) patients hospitalized at Mbarara Regional and Referral Hospital

METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted among hospitalized HF patients from November 2021 to January 2022. All HF patients hospitalized in adult medical and pediatric ward during the study period were the source population. The statistical data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics were presented using median and percentages (%). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was employed to determine factors associated with the ADR.

RESULTS: Overall, 118 HF patients were included in the study with a median age of 43 years. It included pediatrics (22%), younger adults (40.7%) and elderly (37.3%). A total of 164 ADRs were identified during the follow up period of 1011 days. The incidence of new ADRs was 106 ADRs/1000 person-days. The prevalence of ADR was 59.3%. Of the 164 ADRs, 118 (71.9%) were probable. Gastrointestinal system was the most frequently (27.5%) affected system. Over half 96 (58.5%) were preventable. Age group 19-59 (AOR 0.15 [0.03 – 0.35] at 95% CI, p=0.013), herbal use (AOR 3.07 [1.01 – 9.32] at 95%CI, p=0.048), poly-pharmacy (AOR 8.7 [2.4 – 15.77] at 95% CI, p<0.001) and drug-drug interaction (AOR 6.06 [2.79 – 12.5] at 95% CI, p=0.004) were significantly associated with ADRs among HF patients.

CONCLUSIONS: This finding showed that the prevalence of ADR among HF patients is high and more than one in ten patients experienced a new ADR per day during hospitalization. Over two-thirds of the ADRs were rated as probable. Gastrointestinal system was the most frequently affected system. Almost two-thirds were preventable. The use of herbal medicines, poly-pharmacy, and drug-drug interaction were associated with high risk of ARDs whereas age group 19-59 years was less likely to experience ARDs.