IATROGENIC PATHOLOGY IN ELDERLY, INDUCING HOSPITALIZATION - A ONE-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN AN INTERNAL-MEDICINE DEPARTMENT

Iatrogenic pathology is mainly seen in the elderly. In a one year retr ospective study, we showed that drug toxicity was responsible for 87 c ases requiring hospitalisation in patients aged 65 years and above (7. 7% of hospital admission for patients over 65 years). The major manife stations were: 21 cases of sera electrolyte disturbance, 19 concerning gastro-intestinal tract and liver, 16 cardiological disorders, 13 neu rological complications, ten involving the endocrine system, six hemat ological complications. The most common drugs involved were: antihyper tensive agents (36%), of which 20.5% were diuretics, psychotherapeutic drugs (24.8%), anti-inflammatory drugs (17.8%). The average cost per patient was calculated to 20,602 FF per patient. Impossibility for dir ect return to the original dwelling place was another complication in 29% of hospitalisations related to iatrogenic disorders. The high numb er of drugs taken daily increases the risk of drug interactions which was responsible for iatrogenic accidents in 12.6% of the patients of t his study.