PRY 502 Concept of risk in pharmacoepidemiology Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics

1. ABU RAIHAN SHAMS
Pharm.D 5th yr.
1700100350
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ABU RAIHAN
Faculty of Pharmacy
CONCEPT OF RISKS IN
PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY

2. INTRODUCTION
o Epidemiology determine the relationship or association
between a given exposure and frequency of disease in
population.
o Epidemiology does not determine the cause of a disease in a
given individual.
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ABU RAIHAN
Faculty of Pharmacy

3. Concept of Risk
o Risk is the likelihood or the probability of experiencing some
type of harm, or losing something that one values.
o Risk factors are variables or characteristics (biological - genetic
disorder/ageing, environmental- air / water, pollution / passive
smoking or psychosocial – workload / deadlines) associated
with an individual that make it more likely that he or she, as
opposed to another person randomly selected from the
population, will develop a problem. 3
ABU RAIHAN
Faculty of Pharmacy

4. Risk Factors
o Exists before a disorder or problem;
o Maybe time – limited or may continue over time;
o Can derive from the individual, the family, the community,
institutions or the general environment; and
o Can play a causal role or be a marker for a problem
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ABU RAIHAN
Faculty of Pharmacy

5. Characteristics of Risks
1. Risk is not certain.
o Risk is based on probability. Therefore, not everyone who is
exposed to a risk condition or factor will have an adverse
outcome. Risk factors are “linked to” and “associated with”
negative outcomes.
o E.g. psychosocial outcomes v/s biological outcomes
o Teratogenic drug – thalidomide, environmental toxin – lead
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ABU RAIHAN
Faculty of Pharmacy

6. Characteristics of Risks
2. Risk is a relative concept.
o Risk factors range from those that are only markers to minimally harmful
situations to those that are markers to life – threatening situations.
o Risk is not a neutral concept. It involves determining what are acceptable
or unacceptable consequences.
o Risk factors work together over time to influence the likelihood of a
negative outcome.
o The longer the exposure to risk factors, the greater the likelihood the
health problem will occur.
o Risk Identification – Exist as a social context. The identification of risk will
be partially based upon their values, experience and knowledge
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ABU RAIHAN
Faculty of Pharmacy

7. Risk in Pharmacoepidemiology
o Health research involves the estimation of risk.
o In the case of drug related research, it is important to understand the
concept of risk.
o It is the probability of developing an outcome when exposed to a drug.
o A drug is approved for human use only after measuring the risks and
benefits associated with it.
o HCP/Pharmacists should know the magnitude and frequency of the risk
involved in the drug in use.
o Each drug outcome has its own risk.
o It is a probability and depends on a variety of factors like age, sex,
physical conditions, food habits, other diseases, other medicines, kinetics
of drugs etc.
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ABU RAIHAN
Faculty of Pharmacy

8. Measurement of Risk
o The risk of an ADR is expressed in many ways:
1.Attributable risk
2.Relative risk
3.Odds ratio
4.Time-risk relationship
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ABU RAIHAN
Faculty of Pharmacy

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ABU RAIHAN
Faculty of Pharmacy