Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: There is growing frustration among physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals over the loss of useful and, at times, irreplaceable medications. Shortages have compromised the quality and value of care in the healthcare environment in multiple ways such as rationing or substitution of less-effective medications. Drug shortages can also contribute toward treatment delays, clinical complications, as well as adverse economic outcomes for patients.1 Sadly, the issue of drug shortages is not new. In 2004, a survey of nearly 1500 pharmacy directors showed that shortages had compromised their patient care, utilized a significant portion of personnel effort, and increased pharmaceutical acquisition costs by over $99 million annually (ie, $160 000 000 in 2023 inflated dollars).2,3 At the end of 2022, drug shortages experienced a 5-year high, with 56% of national drug shortages being due to an unknown cause.4 Burn care has been significantly impacted by the shortages. Burn injuries present with a more intense and protracted hypermetabolic response compared to other critical illnesses, increasing their risk of mortality.5 Hypermetabolism markers have been shown to stay elevated for up to 3 years after burn injury.6 Population studies have linked burn injury with an elevated risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, gastrointestinal disease, and infections.7–9
Source: Journal of Burn Care & Research
DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/irad174
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4388734952