OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are at high risk for development of drug related problems (DRPs) due to multiple drug use. This study aimed to estimate the frequency and risk factors for the development of drug related problems among RA patients.

METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out for twenty-four months in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients who met study eligibility criteria were randomised either into intervention or usual care group. All the patients’ data was screened for the presence of DRPs. Identified DRPs were categorized into problems and their causes using Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE V8.02). Clinical pharmacist’ proposed interventions to resolve DRPs in intervention group. The descriptive data were analysed and expressed as frequencies and percentage values. A chi-square test (x2) was used to evaluate the association between categorical variables among groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk of DRPs. All the statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS v25.

RESULTS: A total of 320 RA patients [Intervention group, n=160 and usual care group, n=160] were enrolled in this study. Overall, 463 DRPs were identified among 88.4% of patients, and frequency of DRPs was 1.6 per patient. Treatment safety 191/463 (41.2%) and patient related factors 149/528 (28.2%) was the most common category and cause of DRPs respectively. Majority (91.3%) of the interventions were accepted and led to resolution of 217/225 (96.4%) DRPs. DRPs resolution was much higher in intervention group as compared to the usual care group 98/221 (44.3%). Advanced age and polypharmacy were the common risk factors identified for the development of DRPs.

CONCLUSION: This study revealed DRPs are common among Indian RA patients and those are related to the treatment safety and efficacy. Clinical pharmacists’ provided interventions had significant impact on DRPs resolution among RA patients.