%0 Journal Article
%T Cost-effectiveness analysis of pharmaceutical care in adult critically ill patients: based on a prospective cohort study.
%A Wei C
%A Hu M
%A Chen G
%A Yan Z
%A Yin W
%A Wu Z
%J Front Pharmacol
%V 15
%N 0
%D 2024
%M 39101137
%F 5.988
%R 10.3389/fphar.2024.1446834
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The medication regimen for critically ill patients is complex and dynamic, leading to a high incidence of drug-related problems. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and economic efficiency of pharmaceutical care for these patients.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>In this prospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary hospital, adult patients were assigned either to a clinical pharmaceutical care group or a control group based on existing clinical grouping rules. Health outcomes and economic indicators were collected, followed by a cost-effectiveness analysis.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The acceptance rate for clinical pharmacist interventions was 89.31%. The pharmaceutical care group exhibited significant reductions in the rate of medication errors (40.65% vs. 61.69%, P < 0.001) and adverse drug events (44.52% vs. 56.45%, P = 0.020). The usage rates for special-grade antibiotics (85.16% vs. 91.13%, P = 0.009) and proton pump inhibitors (77.42% vs. 88.71%, P = 0.002) were also lower in the pharmaceutical care group. Secondary outcomes did not show significant differences in total hospital stay (21 days vs. 22 days, P = 0.092). However, ICU stay was significantly shorter (9 days vs. 11 days, P = 0.003) in the pharmaceutical care group. Cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that each 1% reduction in adverse drug events associated with ICU pharmaceutical care saved $226.75 in ICU hospitalization costs and $203.42 in total ICU drug costs. A 1% reduction in the medication error rate saved $128.57 in ICU hospitalization costs and $115.34 in total ICU drug costs.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Pharmaceutical care significantly reduces adverse drug events and medication errors, promotes rational use of medications, decreases the length of ICU stay, and lowers treatment costs in critically ill patients, establishing a definitive advantage in terms of cost-effectiveness.