MedDRA SMQs

Here are some examples of use of Standardised MedDRA Queries (SMQs) to address safety issues.

Use of MedDRA in Characterising Medication Errors

This article presents the results of a study that characterises spontaneously reported cases of medication errors in EudraVigilance over the period 2002–2015. A total of 147,824 potential case reports was identified for review using the Standardised MedDRA Query (SMQ) for medication errors. Events were further categorised by MedDRA term, geographical region, patient age group, and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system of suspect medicinal product(s). Potential reasons for the steady increase in medication errors during the observation period were discussed. The authors noted that, since 2005, there has been a significant expansion of the MedDRA hierarchy which now uses a conceptual approach to cover a broad range of medication errors. In addition, the authors emphasised the value of Medication errors (SMQ) in the identification of medication errors in a pharmacovigilance database: “The release of the MedDRA SMQ for medication errors has been an important milestone to improve the detection and retrieval of medication errors in EudraVigilance.”

Newbould V, Le Meur S, Goedecke T, Kurz X. Medication Errors: A Characterisation of Spontaneously Reported Cases in EudraVigilance. Drug Saf. 2017 Jul 11

Use of SMQs in Safety Evaluation of Regulatory Submissions

The authors state that “the present study is the first one, to the best of our knowledge…to characterize patterns in SMQ use and impact in the generation of regulatory decisions in the review of NDA and BLA submissions to the United States Food and Drug Administration.” Hepatic toxicity, cardiac toxicity, central nervous system toxicity, and hypersensitivity were the most common safety concerns that were subject to SMQ evaluation, and the utility of SMQ use relevant to labeling and postmarketing requirements is demonstrated in this review of regulatory submissions. The authors conclude that “the SMQ is a well-recognized tool with increasing importance for the analysis of safety profiles, which could be effectively used in making regulatory decisions.”

Chang LC, Mahmood R, Qureshi S, Breder CD. Patterns of use and impact of standardised MedDRA query analyses on the safety evaluation and review of new drug and biologics license applications. PLoS One. 2017 Jun 1;12(6):e0178104

Analysis of SMQs for Signal Detection

The EMA researchers in this study compared the timing of onset of a known safety signal (hyperglycaemia) for a marketed product using various MedDRA term levels (PT, HLT, HLGT) and for SMQ Hyperglycaemia/new onset diabetes mellitus. Proportional reporting ratios (PRRs) over time (“dynamic PRRs”) for each term level and for the SMQ were calculated and used for the comparison. The researchers reported that a significant PRR was found using SMQ Hyperglycaemia/new onset diabetes mellitus earlier than for any other term level studied. The study highlighted the potential for SMQs to be used early on in signal detection for risk management, and that further research in this area would be useful.

Newbould V, Halsey N, Tsintis P, Lerch M, Mozzicato P. Standardised MedDRA® Queries: Analysis of their signal detection capability. 22nd ICPE Meeting; 2006 Aug; Lisbon, Portugal; Abstract 87.

Comparison of Risk of Seizures Using a SMQ

In this study, researchers mined the Spanish pharmacovigilance system for case reports of seizures to compare the rates of reports of these events in first generation (FGAs) vs. second generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Although the risk of seizures is well known among FGAs, the risk for SGAs to date is largely unknown. Using a Standardised MedDRA Query (SMQ Convulsions), the researchers compared the incidence of reporting for both types of antipsychotics using the same list of MedDRA PTs provided in the SMQ. Given well known caveats for incidence calculations related to spontaneous reporting, the researchers nonetheless concluded that there is a suggestion of increased risk of seizures for SGAs compared to FGAs, and that further research is needed. 

Lertxundi U, Hernandez R, Medrano J, Domingo-Echaburu S, Garcıa M, Aguirre C. Antipsychotics and seizures: Higher risk with atypicals? Seizure 2013 March;22(2):141-3. doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2012.10.009. Epub 2012 Nov 10.

Risk of Depression and Suicide/Self Injurious Behaviour Using a SMQ

In this study, researchers mined data from the US FDA’s AERS database for serious spontaneous reports for two marketed products indicated for smoking cessation. The objective was to determine the risk of depression and suicide/self injurious behaviour with these two products and compare the risks between them. Using a Standardised MedDRA Query – SMQ Depression and suicide/self-injury – the study authors determined that both products carry a risk of these types of events, with the risk for one product somewhat higher than the other. Based on their data, the authors provided a statement concerning the use of one of the products for first-line smoking cessation therapy.

Moore TJ, Furberg CD, Glenmullen J, Maltsberger JT, Singh S. Suicidal behavior and depression in smoking cessation treatments. PLoS ONE 2011 Nov 2;6(11):e27016.