U.S. drug shortages for medications used in adult critical care (2001-2016).

PURPOSE: We describe trends in U.S. shortages impacting critical care drugs from 2001 to 2016.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Shortages within the scope of critical care were identified using data from the University of Utah Drug Information Services. Shortage characteristics were described using standard descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

RESULTS: Of 1969 shortages reported, 1004 (51%) were for drugs used in critical care. New shortages fell from 2001 to 2004, then increased, peaking in 2011 (116). For critical care shortages, 247 (24.6%) involved drugs used for high acuity conditions. The majority of drugs on shortage were parenteral, (720; 71.7%) and 393 (39.1%) were single source drugs. Alternatives were available for 887 (88.3%) drugs, although 250 (24.9%) alternatives were impacted by shortages. Infectious disease drugs were the most common drugs on shortage, with 200 (19.9%) shortages, with a median duration of 7.7months (IQR=2.8-17.3). By the end of the study, 896 (89.2%) shortages were resolved and 108 (10.8%) remained active. The median duration for active shortages was 13.6months (IQR=5.8-58.4) while the duration for resolved shortages was 7.2months (IQR=2.8-17.3).

CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of new shortages peaked in 2011 and is now declining, there remain a substantial number of active shortages impacting critical care drugs.