Prevalência e perfil de potenciais interações medicamentosas em pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados: um estudo transversal

Background: Knowledge regarding the actual frequency of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in pediatric settings remains limited. The aim of this study was to characterize the prevalence and profile of potential DDIs in pediatric patients at two high-complexity hospitals. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 470 pediatric patients hospitalized between July and December 2022. Data were extracted from prescription databases, and the theoretical severity of interactions was assessed using Drugs.com® and DrugBank®. Results: The study revealed an overall prevalence of potential DDIs of 57.4% (95% CI, 52.9–61.8%). Regarding clinical relevance, 2.7% were classified as major, 27.6% as moderate, and 42.5% as minor. The therapeutic classes most frequently involved in interactions were analgesics, systemic corticosteroids, and antimicrobials. Conclusions: A high prevalence of potential DDIs was identified, primarily associated with the simultaneous use of multiple medications. These findings underscore the critical need to strengthen systematic treatment reviews and implement clinical decision-support tools for prescribing in hospital practice.