The quality of spontaneous adverse drug reaction reports from the pharmacovigilance centre in western China

Background: High-quality adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports are essential for conducting drug safety monitoring in pharmacovigilance. The study aim was to assess the current quality of ADR reports in western China, and to identify problems with ADR report quality.

Research design and methods: A sample of 1139 reports received by the Shaanxi ADR Monitoring Center from January 2015 to December 2017 was selected. ADR report quality was evaluated using an ADR report quality evaluation system.

Results: None of the reports were rated as excellent and 1.40% (n = 16) as good. Report quality was better for new and serious reports than for general reports. Medical institutions generated higher quality reports than pharmaceutical manufacturers. Nurses generated higher quality reports than doctors, pharmacists, and other professionals. Reporters of different occupations showed significant differences in the quality of the indicators Reporting time limit, Intervention ADR time, ADR termination time, ADR intervention measures, Original disease, and Cause of medication (P = 0.000).

Conclusions: The ADR data quality was poor in western China, and of lower quality than reported data from previous research in other regions. Improvements in the quality and availability of ADR reports are urgently needed.     

Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions in an Italian region: Six years of analysis and observations

Pharmacovigilance started in Italy in 1965, and from 1987 reporting of ADRs has been mandatory. Doctors have to send the filled forms on suspected ADRs to the Local Health Districts which transmit biannually all the reports to the Health Department. In a Northern Italian Region (Veneto) spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) has been studied during the period 1988–1993. This Region contributes a substantial percentage of the total Italian reports. The total number of reports was 3700, most of these (54 per cent) coming from GPs. A great variability in the reporting rate among the 36 districts of Veneto Region (range: 0–8.8 per 10,000 inhabitants per year) and an important under-reporting have been evident. Underreporting is also emphasized by the fact that in 1993 the Veneto doctors who sent at least one report were only 2.7 per cent. On the whole about 35 per cent of reports concerned minor reactions caused by drugs which have a well known toxicological profile. Comparison between reports coming from Veneto and the UK in some cases show a similar safety profile (omeprazole and simvastatin), whereas in other cases (e.g. terfenadine, glafenine, fluoxetine) no correspondence can be found. This article reveals the limits of the actual spontaneous reporting in Italy and suggests some possible measures for improving it.     

参麦注射液自发呈报系统的药物警戒研究

自发呈报系统是药品上市后药物不良反应 (adverse drug reaction,ADR) 监测及发现ADR信号的重要方式,能够及时有效地发现不良反应信号,进而有效预防和避免药害事件的发生。参麦注射液具有益气固脱、养阴生津、生脉之功效,临床上可用于治疗或辅助治疗气阴两虚型之休克、冠心病、病毒性心肌炎、慢性肺心病、粒细胞减少症、肿瘤等多种疾病。随着参麦注射液ADR自发呈报系统(spontaneous reporting system,SRS)病例数逐年增多,所形成的海量数据对评价方法也提出了较高的要求,该文采用贝叶斯置信传播神经网络法(Bayesian confidence propagation neural network,BCPNN)与报告率比例法(proportional reporting ratio,PRR)2种数据挖掘方法进行药物警戒研究,并采用倾向性评分法(propensity score,PS) 控制SRS数据分析时产生的混杂偏倚,结果表明基于BCPNN法和PRR法分析得到的ADR预警结果一致,并且"憋气"、"过敏样反应"和"潮红"倾向性评分计算显示匹配前和匹配后都有预警。同时,基于关联规则方法(association rules,AR)挖掘不同因素之前的关联关系,发现ADR既往史、ADR家族史与瘙痒之间的关系最为密切。     

Data mining for signals in spontaneous reporting databases: proceed with caution

PURPOSE: To provide commentary and points of caution to consider before incorporating data mining as a routine component of any Pharmacovigilance program, and to stimulate further research aimed at better defining the predictive value of these new tools as well as their incremental value as an adjunct to traditional methods of post-marketing surveillance. METHODS/RESULTS: Commentary includes review of current data mining methodologies employed and their limitations, caveats to consider in the use of spontaneous reporting databases and caution against over-confidence in the results of data mining. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should focus on more clearly delineating the limitations of the various quantitative approaches as well as the incremental value that they bring to traditional methods of pharmacovigilance.     

药典收载有毒中药早期预警研究

针对《中华人民共和国药典》2010年版1部收载的83种有毒中药,从药味自身毒性成分、炮制方法、毒靶器官临床表征信息采集3个方面,探讨有毒中药药物不良反应的早期预警机制,对于预防有毒中药临床应用不良反应事件发生、降低药物损害,指导临床合理用药具有积极意义。