[Translated article] Pharmaceutical intervention for the reduction of risks associated with medications in patients with liver cirrhosis in primary care.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of cirrhosis may require adjustment of medication doses or substitution with safer alternatives. Inadequate treatment can lead to medication-related problems, which in most cases are preventable. The objectives are to describe the implementation of a safety strategy consisting of a comprehensive medication review for patients with cirrhosis, and to evaluate the acceptance rate of the intervention. METHODS: It is a study of the implementation of a medication risk minimization strategy. It consisted of a medication review by hospital pharmacists, with clinical advice from a physician specializing in hepatology to patients in Primary Care. RESULTS: A total of 307 patients were included in the study, of whom 76.2% had at least one potentially inappropriate medication prescribed, for with a safer alternative was available in 87.2% of cases. Benzodiazepines and related drugs, proton pump inhibitors, and lipid-lowering drugs were the most frequently proposed. Benzodiazepines and related drugs were the least modified by physicians. 48.1% of the 405 proposals were accepted. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of patients with cirrhosis were receiving inadequate treatment for their hepatic pathology, despite the availability of alternatives to minimize risks in most cases. Half of the pharmacists' recommendations were accepted and the acceptance rate of these proposals was not influenced by patient characteristics.