Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions in elderly patients in Sicily (Italy)

The aim of this study was to investigate the spontaneous reports of suspect ed adverse drug reactions, observed in elderly patients (over 65 years of a ge) in Sicily (Italy) during the period from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1997. Of 1307 reports, the geriatric ADRs were 284 (21.7%); 92 (32.4%) of t hese were serious. There was a correlation between the reporting rates of A DRs and the increase of age. Similar trends are seen in the number of serio us ADR reports. Old-older patients result most frequently affected by serio us ADRs. The antimicrobial and musculo-skeletal drugs were responsible for 48.3% of the whole suspected geriatric ADRs. The commonest ADRs reported fo r the elderly, affected skin and the gastrointestinal system. There was pro bably a correlation between multi-drug consumption, comorbidity and serious ness of ADRs. A higher percentage of serious ADRs originated from universit y hospitals (57.1%). (C) 1999 Academic Press.