ADVERSE DRUG-REACTIONS RESULTING IN-HOSPITAL ADMISSION

A 14-month (1992/3) prospective study was performed in two departments of the University Hospital Centre (UHC) in Zagreb. The aim of the stu dy was to assess the rate of drug-related hospitalizations, drugs that caused adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and all factors which could hav e been of importance for their appearance. One hundred and thirty (2.5 %) of 5,227 patients were admitted to hospital because of ADRs. The mo st frequently ADR-related drugs were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory dr ugs and analgesics (64.6%). They were followed by cardiovascular agent s (20.8%) and antimicrobials (3,8%). Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) ca used 38.5% of hospital admissions, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammator y drugs (NSAIDs) 23,1% and medigoxin 15.4% of hospitalizations. The mo st frequent ADRs were upper gastro-intestinal tract bleeding (64.6%), cardiac rhythm disturbances (13.9%), blood cell disorders (4,6%) and h ypoglycemia (2.3%). Regarding the patients' age, 52.3% of patients was younger and 47.7% older than 65. Sixty-one point five percent of pati ents was taking more than one drug, older patients (48 patients - 77.4 %) have been taking a significantly higher number of drugs than the yo unger (32 patients - 47.1%) (p < 0.0001) ones. Drug interactions cause d 23.8% of ADRs. Only 11 (8.5%) of patients suspected themselves that the drug might have caused the ADR. Improvement was observed in the ma jority of patients (65.4%), 25.4% recovered completely, 4 (3.0%) died in the hospital because of ADRs. 3,0% of patients as well died of thei r underlying diseases, 2.3% were transferred to other departments for their underlying diseases, and one patient left the hospital on his fr ee will.