Counting the costs of drug-related adverse events

Adverse drug events occur frequently and lead to a significant number of fa talities each year. II has been estimated that fatalities directly attribut able to adverse drug reactions are the fourth to sixth leading cause of dea th in US hospitals, exceeding deaths caused by pneumonia and diabetes. The economic burden resulting from drug-related morbidity and mortality is equa lly significant and has been conservatively estimated at $US30 billion doll ars annually, and could exceed $US130 billion in a worst-case scenario. Since many adverse drug events are considered preventable, increased effort s should be made to avoid classes of drugs that are problem-prone and to in itiate diligent monitoring of drugs with predictable toxicities. Programmes should also be implemented that improve medication use practices within in stitutions. Although nearly all drugs are capable of producing an injury, c ertain drugs are more likely to do so. Prevention of drug-related morbidity and mortality has become an increasingly important requirement for reducin g healthcare expenditures. This article will review studies that examine th e economic implications of drug-related adverse events.