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Look-alike sound-alike (LASA) drugs cause a high proportion of medication errors in hospitals. Drug lists available in hospitals are diverse and complicated. Presently, each hospital has its own LASA drug list and unique management strategies to minimize and prevent LASA errors. Objective: This study aimed to explore the prevalence of LASA drug lists, types of LASA drugs, and categories of medication errors in hospitals in Thailand. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, questionnaires were developed and distributed along with a letter to 500 government hospitals (selected from a total of 1,309 hospitals) in Thailand via mail from April to June 2021. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages). Results: A total of 128 hospitals participated in this study (response rate: 25.60%), including 12 tertiary hospitals (9.38%), 33 secondary hospitals (25.78%), 24 large primary hospitals (18.75%), 51 small primary hospitals (39.84%), and eight private hospitals (6.25%). A total of 2,510 pairs of LASA drugs were identified, which included 1,674 (66.69%) tablets/capsules (Simvastatin 10-Simvastatin 20 pair had the highest frequency), 427 injections (17.01%) (Ceftriaxone-Ceftazidime pair had the highest frequency), 85 liquid dosage forms (3.39%) (Milk of magnesia-alum milk pair had the highest frequency), 74 special techniques in medicine (2.95%) (Seretide evohaler®-Seretide accuhaler® pair had the highest frequency), 49 external used drugs (1.95%) (Clotrimazole cream-Clobetasol cream pair had the highest frequency), and 28 powder dosage forms (1.12%) (ORS for pediatrics-ORS for adult pair had the highest frequency). Conclusion: Despite relevant awareness among healthcare professionals, LASA medication errors occur in hospitals. The most frequent similarities among LASA drugs were detected in their names/pronunciations, and the most common errors belonged to Category B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: What is known: SLCO1B1 polymorphisms have been reported to affect the responses to statin therapy. However, the association of these polymorphisms and lipid‐lowering responses has been inconsistent. Objective: To investigate the effect of SLCO1B1 c.388A>G, c.521T>C and g.89595T>C polymorphisms on the lipid‐lowering response to simvastatin therapy in Thai hypercholesterolaemic patients. Methods: Three hundred and 91 hypercholesterolaemic patients in Southern Thailand were enrolled and treated with simvastatin 20 or 40 mg per day. Among them, 191 and 200 patients were treated for 3 and 12 months, respectively. Serum lipids were measured before and after the treatment. SLCO1B1 c.388A>G, c.521T>C and g.89595T>C polymorphisms were analysed using polymerase chain reaction‐high‐resolution melting (PCR‐HRM). Results: The allele frequencies of the SLCO1B1 c.388A>G, c.521T>C and g.89595T>C polymorphisms in Thai hypercholesterolaemic patients were 74.9%, 11.8% and 37.2%, respectively. After treatment with 20‐40 mg simvastatin daily for 3 and 12 months, TC, TG and LDL‐C concentrations were significantly lower than at baseline (P < .05). However, there was no a significant change in serum HDL‐C after simvastatin treatment for 3 and 12 months (P > .05). Moreover, there was no association between SLCO1B1 c.388A>G, c.521T>C and g.89595T>C polymorphisms and lipid‐lowering response to 3 and 12 months of either 20 or 40 mg/day simvastatin treatment. What is new and conclusion: SLCO1B1 c.388A>G, c.521T>C and g.89595T>C polymorphisms may not be useful as genetic markers of lipid‐lowering response to simvastatin therapy in Thai hypercholesterolaemic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Statins play important roles in the prevention of atherosclerotic vascular diseases; however, their beneficial effects in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of treatment with statins to better understand their prescribing patterns in CHF patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in patients with first-time diagnoses of CHF receiving care in the outpatient clinics affiliated with a tertiary-care teaching hospital in Thailand. Data were retrieved from electronic claims database. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of treatment with statins. Results: A total of 3445 patients were included in this study. Among them, 1908 (55.4%) were prescribed statins, with most of them (89.7%) receiving simvastatin 20 mg daily. Factors independently associated with the statin treatment include the following: being male (odds ratio [OR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-1.44, P =.03); diagnoses of dyslipidemia (OR = 4.88, 95% CI = 3.88-6.14, P <.001), ischemic heart disease (OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 2.18-3.36, P <.001), diabetes (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.55-2.46, P <.001), or cerebrovascular disease (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.12-2.40, P =.01); and receipt of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (OR = 3.44, 95% CI = 2.87-4.13, P <.001), aspirin (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 2.30-3.40, P <.001), non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.30-4.24, P =.004), organic nitrates (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.16-3.58, P =.01), beta-blockers (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.23-1.84, P <.001), and digoxin (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.50-0.86, P =.002). Conclusions: Statins were prescribed to more than half of the newly diagnosed CHF patients. Independent predictors of statin treatments include hypercholesterolemia and comorbidities indicative of high atherosclerotic vascular risk as well as drugs recommended as cardiovascular protective therapy for CHF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]