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4CPS-096 The impact of pharmaceutical interventions on the management of hospitalised patients with cirrhosis: what role does the clinical pharmacist play?

ejhpharm · 2026-03-18 · canonical JSON source

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Background and Importance Cirrhotic patients, characterised by a hepatic impairment, are at higher risk of drug-related adverse events compared to the general population. Henceforth, when it comes to pharmacological treatments, choosing the right molecule and/or adapting the dose to the hepatic function should be at the forefront. However, the integration of clinical pharmacists into gastroenterology care, particularly for patients with hepatic insufficiency, is limited. The adaptation of drug dosages in the context of hepatic impairment is a complex issue that lacks comprehensive discussion in current literature and practice, pointing to a significant opportunity for advancing patient care through targeted pharmaceutical strategies.Aim and Objectives This study aims to evaluate the impact of a clinical pharmacist on medication management for hospitalised cirrhotic patients.Material and Methods This prospective interventional study was conducted in a secondary care hospital over a period of 12 weeks. The study included 30 patients, predominantly male (53.3%), with an average age of 66 years. The primary aetiology of cirrhosis was alcohol-related (73.3%). Upon admission, 33.3% of patients were classified as Child A, 50% as Child B, and 16.7% as Child C. The pharmacist made daily recommendations to physicians in the gastroenterology department regarding their treatments, including PIs specific to hepatic impairment. The interventions were assessed by a committee of two experts - a hepatologist and a clinical pharmacist - using an adapted evaluation grid from the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.Results A total of 143 PIs were formulated, with an acceptance rate of 84% among clinicians. Among specific pharmaceutical interventions (PIs) for cirrhosis (n=58), high to very high risk intervention levels were assigned to 81.0% and 44.8% respectively. Most frequently involved drug classes were beta-blockers (36.2%), psycholeptics (13.8%) and hypolipidemic agents (12.0%).Conclusion and Relevance This study suggests a valuable contribution of a clinical pharmacist to the management of hospitalised cirrhosis patients. With an 84% acceptance rate by treating physicians and a high proportion of high risk interventions, PIs demonstrate clinical relevance and potential to prevent serious drug-related events in cirrhotic patients. The study advocates for greater integration of pharmacist-led interventions in gastroenterology and enhanced collaboration among healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive patient care and adherence to established guidelines.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest