Page 234 - EJMO-9-3

Eurasian Journal of Medicine

and Oncology

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Critical care pharmacists in intensive care units:

A meta-analysis of their impact on mortality and
adverse drug events

1
Mohamed S. Imam * , Khalid Nassir Almurayeh 2 ,
Abdulrahman Saeed M. Okshah 2 , Fawaz Saad Yahya Thabit 2 ,
Amal Ali Al Thabet 2 , Abdullah Abduh Ali Hijazy 2 ,
Shahad Abdullah Ali Alahmari 2 , Faisal Saeed Mohammed Hatab 2 ,
Sadeem Nawaf A. Alotaibi 3 , Ruba Hamoud Mohammed Alshahrani 3 , and
Ranaa Abdullah Saleh Alamri 4
1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
2 College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Asir, Saudi Arabia
3 College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
4 College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: Critical care pharmacists (CCPs) are increasingly integrated into
intensive care unit (ICU) teams to enhance medication safety and improve outcomes.
*Corresponding author: However, their effect on mortality and adverse drug events (ADEs) remains
Mohamed S. Imam inadequately studied.
(imammohamed311@gmail.com)
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of CCP involvement in ICU care
Citation: Imam MS, Almurayeh KN, on patient mortality and ADEs.
Okshah ASM, et al. Critical care Methods: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis were performed,
pharmacists in intensive care units:
A meta-analysis of their impact on encompassing studies published through January 2025. The literature search was
mortality and adverse drug events. conducted in multiple databases, such as PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library.
Eurasian J Med Oncol. Results: A total of 16 eligible studies were identified, collectively involving 37,925
2025;9(3):226-238.
doi: 10.36922/EJMO025150116 ICU patients. To evaluate outcomes, odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95%
confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated utilizing either fixed-effects or random-
Received: April 13, 2025
effects models, depending on heterogeneity levels. Patients in ICUs with CCPs
1st revised: June 24, 2025 experienced significantly reduced mortality (OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.56 – 0.92; p=0.01)
2nd revised: June 26, 2025 and fewer ADEs (OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.21 – 0.70; p=0.002) compared to controls. Despite
notable heterogeneity, findings were consistent in sensitivity analyses. No significant
Accepted: July 3, 2025
publication bias was detected.
Published online: August 4, 2025 Conclusion: The inclusion of CCPs in ICU teams is associated with lower mortality and fewer
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). ADEs. These findings support expanding the role of pharmacists in critical care settings.
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution Keywords: Critical care pharmacists; Pharmacotherapy; Intensive care unit; Adverse drug
License, permitting distribution, events; Mortality; Interdisciplinary care
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with In the evolving landscape of critical care, intensivist-led multidisciplinary teams have
regard to jurisdictional claims in 1
published maps and institutional become a cornerstone of best practices in the intensive care unit (ICU). These teams are
affiliations. designed to deliver timely, accurate, and collaborative care to critically ill patients, thereby

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2025) 226 doi: 10.36922/EJMO025150116