4. Discussion
This study aimed to describe the clinical and pharmacological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 inpatients who experienced one or more ADRs, with a focus on DDIs. Based on the evidence herein reported, the majority of ADRs occurred in elderly patients exposed to polypharmacy.
Off-label drug utilisation and DDIs are well known causes of ADRs in the general population [2524]. In the case of COVID-19 pandemic, lacking of specific pharmacological treatments forced clinicians and regulatory agencies to resort to currently available drugs. Thus, off-label drug utilisation could not be avoided. On the contrary, a patient’s complete anamnesis, in particular regarding comorbidities and concomitant medications, may help in avoiding the occurrence of ADRs, often due to DDIs.
In our sample, according to the case-by-case clinical evaluation, most frequently reported ADRs were Cardiac, Psychiatric and nervous system, and Gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders.