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Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are “a significant cause” of hospital admissions and visits, according to a meta-analysis of 13 studies.

Overall, DDIs accounted for a median of 1.1 per cent of hospital admissions and 0.1 per cent of hospital visits (e.g. to accident and emergency). In people hospitalised for adverse drug reactions, DDIs accounted for a median of 22.2 per cent of hospital admissions and 8.9 per cent of hospital visits.

Aspirin was the drug most commonly involved in interactions with other medicines, contributing to 23.5 per cent of DDIs that needed hospital admissions. Other NSAIDs accounted for 12.9 per cent of DDIs that lead to hospital admissions.

Gastrointestinal tract bleeding (40.4 per cent) and cardiac arrhythmias (29.8 per cent) were the most frequent adverse events resulting from DDIs. (Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety)