Using INTERCheck® to Evaluate the Incidence of Adverse Events and Drug–Drug Interactions in Out- and Inpatients Exposed to Polypharmacy

Background Polypharmacy exposes patients with comorbidities (particularly elderly patients) to an increased risk of drug-specific adverse events and drug–drug interactions. These adverse events could be avoided with the use of a computerized prescription support system in the primary care setting. The INTERCheck ® software is a prescription support system developed with the aim of balancing the risks and benefits of polytherapy and examining drug–drug interactions. Objectives This observational study used the INTERCheck ® software to evaluate the incidence of adverse events and of drug–drug interactions in outpatients and inpatients receiving multiple medications. Methods Patients were randomly enrolled from the outpatient department ( n = 98) and internal medicine ward ( n = 46) of S. Andrea Hospital of Rome. Polypharmacological treatment was analyzed using INTERCheck ® software, and the prevalence of risk indicators and adverse events was compared between the two groups. Results Polypharmacy (use of five or more drugs) applied to all except three cases among outpatients and one case among inpatients. A significant positive correlation was found between the number of medications and the INTERCheck ® score ( ρ = 0.67; p