Analysis of drug use and drug-drug interactions in a total population sample of adults with intellectual disability

McMahon, Martin and Hatton, Chris (2019) Analysis of drug use and drug-drug interactions in a total population sample of adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63 (7). p. 802. ISSN 0964-2633

Abstract

Introduction: Prescribing drugs is the most common intervention in healthcare. People with intellectual disabilities are likely to be prescribed more drugs than other individuals as they experience greater levels of ill‐health. Most available evidence focuses on psychotropic drug prescribing, with an absence of population‐level research on complete prescribing occurrences and potential drug–drug interactions in persons with intellectual disabilities. Methods: A total population sampling approach identified all individuals with intellectual disabilities known to services in Jersey ‐ 217 individuals participated. Prescribed drug data were categorised according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and potential drug–drug interactions were graded according to severity using Stockley's Drug Interaction Checker. Results: As our analysis is ongoing, we cannot outline firm conclusions at this stage. Nevertheless, our results will; (1) outline the pattern and prevalence of drug prescribing according to the primary therapeutic use of the drug's main active ingredient; (2) report on and grade potential pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (or both) drug–drug interactions. Implications: This population‐level data will outline clinically important frequently occurring drug–drug interactions. The implications of these drug–drug interactions will be considered from a biomedical and broader public health perspective. Theoretically, this should contribute to safer drug prescribing in this population.