Adverse drug events (ADEs) are the 4th leading cause of death in the United States, leading to 1.3 million emergency department visits and 350,000 hospitalizations annually.1 Each year, 4.5 million ADEs occur in the US, resulting in $2.5 billion in related healthcare costs.2-4 As many as half of ADEs are considered preventable, yet they continue to pose a serious public health risk with significant financial consequences. As the need to prevent ADEs becomes more dire, there is increased interest in minimizing patient risks.

Healthcare providers often turn to laboratory testing to manage their patients’ medications safely and effectively. For example, a physician might order a test to monitor serum potassium levels for patients taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or a liver function test (LFT) for a patient on statins.

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is one under-utilized clinical tool that can significantly decrease a patient’s risk of experiencing an ADE. PGx testing identifies genetic variations that affect the structure and function of biological proteins associated with a medication’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). Changes in these proteins functions can affect whether specific drugs are safe and effective for an individual.

PGx testing allows healthcare providers to personalize drug therapy and predict if a medication will be safe, effective, and non-toxic for a patient. Patients with personalized drug therapy based on PGx testing had a 30% lower occurrence of ADEs5 and 6.3% fewer hospitalizations.6 Additionally, PGx testing reduced emergency department and outpatient visits by 11% and 32.5%, respectively.6

About Genemarkers

Genemarkers is a CAP-accredited, CLIA-Certified, genomics laboratory based in Kalamazoo that partners with health care providers and organizations to offer comprehensive, quality-driven pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing services. Genemarkers offers three multigene PGx panels and two single-gene tests that contain clinical guidance based on the highest level of evidence, as determined by the Clinical Pharmacogenomics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) and the FDA.

Learn more

References

  1. Nebeker JR, Barach P, Samore MH. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2004; 140:795-801.
  2. Preventable Adverse Drug Reactions: A Focus on Drug Interactions. www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DevelopmentResources/DrugInteractionsLabeling/ucm110632.htm
  3. Interventions to Improve Adherence to Self-administered Medications for Chronic Diseases in the United States: A Systematic Review. Viswanathan M, PhD; Golin C, et al. Annals of Int Med. 4 December 2012
  4. US Department of HHS, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Publication #01-0020; CDC Medication Safety Basics
  5. Swen et al. Lancet. Vol 401. 2023
  6. Brixner D, Biltaji E, Bress A, et al. The effect of pharmacogenetic profiling with a clinical decision support tool on healthcare resource utilization and estimated costs in the elderly exposed to polypharmacy. J Med Econ. 2016;19(3):213-228. doi:10.3111/13696998.2015.1110160.