The Evaluation of Albumin Use in an Iranian University Hospital

Background: Albumin is an expensive protein colloidal solution with various indications, especially in critically ill patients. The vast use of albumin in health care centers (particularly ICUs), the theoretical danger of contaminant transmission (as with any blood derivative), and the existence of...

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Main Author: Elaheh Shafiee, Haleh Rezaee, Taher Entezari, Hadi Hamishehkar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences 2016-09-01
Series:Pharmaceutical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.tbzmed.ac.ir/PHARM/Abstract/PHARM_1046_20160518190717
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spelling doaj-f164f7ae3ab3494d8f7bc3b3bc0828562021-02-02T02:00:28ZengTabriz University of Medical SciencesPharmaceutical Sciences2383-28862383-28862016-09-0122318618910.15171/PS.2016.29The Evaluation of Albumin Use in an Iranian University Hospital Elaheh Shafiee, Haleh Rezaee, Taher Entezari, Hadi Hamishehkar Background: Albumin is an expensive protein colloidal solution with various indications, especially in critically ill patients. The vast use of albumin in health care centers (particularly ICUs), the theoretical danger of contaminant transmission (as with any blood derivative), and the existence of more economical alternatives of equal efficacy evidence the importance of conducting a drug-utilization evaluation. The objective of this study was to assess the usage of albumin in patients at a hospital in Iran. Methods: Albumin administration was evaluated in 210 patients from different wards on randomly selected days during one year. Reasons for the prescription, the consumed dose, length of administration, and related laboratory tests were recorded. Results: Albumin was prescribed inappropriately in 76.2% and appropriately in 23.8% of inpatients. The most frequent inappropriate prescribing motives were hypoalbuminemia (35.6%), nutritional support (32.5%), and edema (24.4%), while the most appropriate prescriptions were edema (46%), nephrotic syndrome (18%), and plasmapheresis (16%). The total amount of albumin used for 210 patients was 68930 g, from which 51290 g costing $274607.1429 was administered for inappropriate indications. Conclusion: Despite the many valid guidelines defining the appropriate indications of albumin, this study demonstrated the extensive inappropriate use of this expensive preparation in one of the largest university-affiliated hospitals in northwestern Iran. It seems advisable to have the consumption of albumin continuously monitored. http://journals.tbzmed.ac.ir/PHARM/Abstract/PHARM_1046_20160518190717AlbuminDrug utilization Evaluation (DUE)Rational TherapyClinical Practice Guidelines
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Elaheh Shafiee, Haleh Rezaee, Taher Entezari, Hadi Hamishehkar
spellingShingle Elaheh Shafiee, Haleh Rezaee, Taher Entezari, Hadi Hamishehkar
The Evaluation of Albumin Use in an Iranian University Hospital
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Albumin
Drug utilization Evaluation (DUE)
Rational Therapy
Clinical Practice Guidelines
author_facet Elaheh Shafiee, Haleh Rezaee, Taher Entezari, Hadi Hamishehkar
author_sort Elaheh Shafiee, Haleh Rezaee, Taher Entezari, Hadi Hamishehkar
title The Evaluation of Albumin Use in an Iranian University Hospital
title_short The Evaluation of Albumin Use in an Iranian University Hospital
title_full The Evaluation of Albumin Use in an Iranian University Hospital
title_fullStr The Evaluation of Albumin Use in an Iranian University Hospital
title_full_unstemmed The Evaluation of Albumin Use in an Iranian University Hospital
title_sort evaluation of albumin use in an iranian university hospital
publisher Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
series Pharmaceutical Sciences
issn 2383-2886
2383-2886
publishDate 2016-09-01
description Background: Albumin is an expensive protein colloidal solution with various indications, especially in critically ill patients. The vast use of albumin in health care centers (particularly ICUs), the theoretical danger of contaminant transmission (as with any blood derivative), and the existence of more economical alternatives of equal efficacy evidence the importance of conducting a drug-utilization evaluation. The objective of this study was to assess the usage of albumin in patients at a hospital in Iran. Methods: Albumin administration was evaluated in 210 patients from different wards on randomly selected days during one year. Reasons for the prescription, the consumed dose, length of administration, and related laboratory tests were recorded. Results: Albumin was prescribed inappropriately in 76.2% and appropriately in 23.8% of inpatients. The most frequent inappropriate prescribing motives were hypoalbuminemia (35.6%), nutritional support (32.5%), and edema (24.4%), while the most appropriate prescriptions were edema (46%), nephrotic syndrome (18%), and plasmapheresis (16%). The total amount of albumin used for 210 patients was 68930 g, from which 51290 g costing $274607.1429 was administered for inappropriate indications. Conclusion: Despite the many valid guidelines defining the appropriate indications of albumin, this study demonstrated the extensive inappropriate use of this expensive preparation in one of the largest university-affiliated hospitals in northwestern Iran. It seems advisable to have the consumption of albumin continuously monitored.
topic Albumin
Drug utilization Evaluation (DUE)
Rational Therapy
Clinical Practice Guidelines
url http://journals.tbzmed.ac.ir/PHARM/Abstract/PHARM_1046_20160518190717
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