Dataset Information

Risk Evaluation of Azithromycin-Induced QT Prolongation in Real-World Practice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Azithromycin exposure has been reported to increase the risk of QT prolongation and cardiovascular death. However, findings on the association between azithromycin and cardiovascular death are controversial, and azithromycin is still used in actual practice. Additionally, quantitative assessments of risk have not been performed, including the risk of QT prolongation when patients are exposed to azithromycin in a real-world clinical setting. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the risk of exposure to azithromycin on QT prolongation in a real-world clinical setting using a 21-year medical history database of a tertiary medical institution.

Methods

We analyzed the electrocardiogram results and relevant electronic health records of 402,607 subjects in a tertiary teaching hospital in Korea from 1996 to 2015. To evaluate the risk of QT prolongation of azithromycin, we conducted a case-control analysis using amoxicillin for comparison. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to correct for age, sex, accompanying drugs, and disease.

Results

The odds ratio (OR) for QT prolongation (QTc>450 ms in male and >460 ms in female) on azithromycin exposure was 1.40 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-1.59), and the OR for severe QT prolongation (QTc>500 ms) was 1.43 (95% CI, 1.13-1.82). On the other hand, the ORs on exposure to amoxicillin were 1.06 (95% CI, 0.97-1.15) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.70-1.09). In a subgroup analysis, the risk of QT prolongation in patients aged between 60 and 80 years was significantly higher when they are exposed to azithromycin.

Conclusions

The risk of QT prolongation was increased when patients, particularly the elderly aged 60-79 years, were exposed to azithromycin. Therefore, clinicians should pay exercise caution using azithromycin or consider using other antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, instead of azithromycin.

SUBMITTER: Choi Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6204160 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Risk Evaluation of Azithromycin-Induced QT Prolongation in Real-World Practice.

Choi Young Y Lim Hong-Seok HS Chung Dahee D Choi Jung-Gu JG Yoon Dukyong D

BioMed research international 20181014

<h4>Background</h4>Azithromycin exposure has been reported to increase the risk of QT prolongation and cardiovascular death. However, findings on the association between azithromycin and cardiovascular death are controversial, and azithromycin is still used in actual practice. Additionally, quantitative assessments of risk have not been performed, including the risk of QT prolongation when patients are exposed to azithromycin in a real-world clinical setting. Therefore, in this study, we aimed t ...[more]

PMID: 30406128

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundDrug-induced prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) increases the risk for Torsades de Pointes (TdP) and sudden cardiac death. Medication effects on the QTc have been studied in controlled settings but may not be well evaluated in real-world settings where medication effects may be modulated by patient demographics and comorbidities as well as the usage of other concomitant medications.ObjectiveWe demonstrate a new, high-throughput method leveraging electronic health records (EHRs) and the Surescripts pharmacy database to monitor real-world QTc-prolonging medication and potential interacting effects from demographics and comorbidities.MethodsWe included all outpatient electrocardiograms (ECGs) from September 2008 to December 2019 at a large academic medical system, which were in sinus rhythm with a heart rate of 40-100 beats per minute, QRS duration of <120 milliseconds, and QTc of 300-700 milliseconds, determined using the Bazett formula. We used prescription information from the Surescripts pharmacy database and EHR medication lists to classify whether a patient was on a medication during an ECG. Negative control ECGs were obtained from patients not currently on the medication but who had been or would be on that medication within 1 year. We calculated the difference in mean QTc between ECGs of patients who are on and those who are off a medication and made comparisons to known medication TdP risks per the CredibleMeds.org database. Using linear regression analysis, we studied the interaction of patient-level demographics or comorbidities on medication-related QTc prolongation.ResultsWe analyzed the effects of 272 medications on 310,335 ECGs from 159,397 individuals. Medications associated with the greatest QTc prolongation were dofetilide (mean QTc difference 21.52, 95% CI 10.58-32.70 milliseconds), mexiletine (mean QTc difference 18.56, 95% CI 7.70-29.27 milliseconds), amiodarone (mean QTc difference 14.96, 95% CI 13.52-16.33 milliseconds), rifaximin (mean QTc difference 14.50, 95% CI 12.12-17.13 milliseconds), and sotalol (mean QTc difference 10.73, 95% CI 7.09-14.37 milliseconds). Several top QT prolonging medications such as rifaximin, lactulose, cinacalcet, and lenalidomide were not previously known but have plausible mechanistic explanations. Significant interactions were observed between demographics or comorbidities and QTc prolongation with many medications, such as coronary disease and amiodarone.ConclusionsWe demonstrate a new, high-throughput technique for monitoring real-world effects of QTc-prolonging medications from readily accessible clinical data. Using this approach, we confirmed known medications for QTc prolongation and identified potential new associations and demographic or comorbidity interactions that could supplement findings in curated databases. Our single-center results would benefit from additional verification in future multisite studies that incorporate larger numbers of patients and ECGs along with more precise medication adherence and comorbidity data.

Dataset Information

Risk Evaluation of Azithromycin-Induced QT Prolongation in Real-World Practice.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Risk Evaluation of Azithromycin-Induced QT Prolongation in Real-World Practice.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets