The preliminary results of an interdisciplinary active surveillance ad
verse drug reaction (ADR) reporting program conducted from April 1992
to December 1993 in the family medicine ward of National Taiwan Univer
sity Hospital are presented. During this period, every admitted patien
t was screened for any possible drug-related problems; suspected ADRs
were evaluated and documented. The USA Food and Drug Administration's
definition of ADR was used, and Naranjo's scale was used to estimate t
he probability of drug-induced events. A total of 41 ADRs were identif
ied in 38 patients. hmong these 41 cases, 18 ADRs occurred during hosp
italization, and 23 were the reason for hospitalization. The incidence
of ADRs rated as probable or highly probable during hospital stay was
2.0%, or 2.7% if possible reactions were included (based upon 666 hos
pital admissions to the unit during the study period). The occurrence
of admissions due to ADRs rated as highly probable or probable was 2.7
%, or 3.5% if possible reactions were included. Twenty-one ADRs (51.2%
) were type A reactions and 20 (48.8%) were type B. Thirty-three ADRs
(80.5%) were classified as serious or moderate. There was no mortality
. Further studies are warranted to determine the incidence of ADRs in
different patient populations in Taiwan.