Severe Acute Respiratory Failure Associated With Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole Among Adolescent and Young Adults: An Active Comparator-Restricted Disproportionality Analysis From the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Database

Abstract

Background:

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised concerns about a potential link between trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and an increased risk of acute respiratory failure/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARF/ARDS) in healthy adolescents and young adults.

Objective:

To assess the association between TMP-SMX and the risk of ARF/ARDS using data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

Methods:

We analyzed adverse drug events (ADEs) reported in FAERS from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2023. We focused on reports where TMP-SMX, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, or azithromycin were the primary suspect drugs for ADEs in individuals aged 10 to 24 years. The outcomes of interest—ARF/ARDS—were identified using MedDRA-preferred terms. We used an active comparator-restricted disproportionality analysis (ACR-DA) to estimate the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), adjusting for age, sex, acne, and urinary tract infections. Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Networks (BCPNN) were used to calculate the Information Components (IC₀₂₅). Due to the amount of missing information, a case-by-case analysis could not be performed.

Results:

3171 ICSRs (810 for TMP-SMX, 1617 for azithromycin, and 744 for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid) were included in the study. ACR-DA showed an unadjusted 8-fold increase in the reports of ARF/ARDS with TMP-SMX compared with azithromycin (unadjusted ROR, 7.98; 95% CI, 4.09 to 15.60) and an adjusted 3-fold increase after adjustment for age, sex, acne, and urinary tract infection (adjusted ROR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.28 to 6.11). BCPNN analysis confirmed significant disproportionality (IC₀₂₅, 0.75). No cases of ARF/ARDS were reported for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.

Conclusion and Relevance:

TMP-SMX may increase the risk of ARF/ARDS, requiring further validation in larger pharmacoepidemiological studies. Our findings lay the groundwork for future research to further investigate the safety profile of TMP-SMX in adolescent populations. If confirmed, prescribers should exercise greater caution when prescribing TMP-SMX to adolescents and young adults.