Pediatria e Terapêutica
Acesso livre
ISSN: 2161-0665
ISSN: 2161-0665
Aeshah Alazmi, Mansoor Khan, Loei Goronfolah and Rayf Abulezz
Overweight and obesity are quite prevalent in Saudi Arabian population. There is likelihood of erroneous medication dosage in an overweight or obese child. Previous studies showed that the most common type of medication errors reported in child population is due to incorrect dosing. Therefore, we planned this study to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and the appropriateness of medication dosing in study population in pediatrics outpatient clinic at King Abdul Aziz Medical (KAMC)-Jeddah.
Aim of the study: To determine the prevalence of inappropriate medication dosing in overweight and obese children and to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children.
Method: This is a retrospective study which included the overweight and obese children aged 2-18 years who visited outpatient general pediatrics clinic during the period from June to December 2012. All patients screened using Body Mass Index (BMI) of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pediatric growth chart for the age and sex for the documented weight and height at the visit time. Descriptive statistics used to summarize quantitative variables while qualitative variables were summarized with proportions and percentages. The inappropriate dosing was determined using the available approved pediatrics reference at KAMC-Jeddah (pediatric and neonatal dosage handbook from Lexi-Comp) and classified as overdose and underdose.
Results: Two thousand four hundred sixty patients aged from 2-18 years were screened using BMI to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Results showed that 174 children were either overweight or obese. Only 96/174 patients (55%) who were overweight or obese have received medications. We found that the rate of overweight and obesity among males was 42% and 58% and among female were 48% and 52%. Only 96 patients out of 174 (55%) who were either obese or overweight received medications. The overall prevalence of an inappropriate medication dose prescribed in overweight and obese children was 63 out of 96 patients (66%). Over- dosage was observed in 32/63 (51%) and under dosage was found in 31/63 medications(49%).
Conclusion: Prevalence of overweight and obesity in our children population are growing concerns. Weight base dosing should be utilized for a specific indication to ensure the correct and safe dose regimen in overweight and obese children unless the child dose exceeds the recommended adult dose. We did not assess clinical outcomes, however, overweight and obese children could be at increased risk for therapeutic failures or adverse effects.