Contribution of adverse drug reactions to hospital admission of older patients

Citation
Ck. Mannesse et al., Contribution of adverse drug reactions to hospital admission of older patients, AGE AGEING, 29(1), 2000, pp. 35-39
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine
Journal title
AGE AND AGEING
ISSN journal
00020729 → ACNP
Volume
29
Issue
1
Year of publication
2000
Pages
35 - 39
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-0729(200001)29:1<35:COADRT>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Objective: to describe the severity of adverse drug reactions as a factor i n hospital admission of older patients, and to identify risk indicators for severe adverse drug reactions in these patients. Design: observational cross-sectional study. Setting: Five wards in a university hospital in the Netherlands. Subjects: patients aged 70 and over admitted to general medical wards. Methods: use of statistical comparison and Kramer's algorithm. Results: a severe adverse drug reaction was present in 25 (24%) of 106 pati ents, Thirteen patients (12%; 95% confidence interval 6.1-18.6%) were admit ted probably because of an adverse drug reaction, Risk indicators for a sev ere adverse drug reaction were a fall before admission (odds ratio 51.3, P = 0.006), gastrointestinal bleeding or haematuria (odds ratio 19.8, P < 0.0 01) and the use of three or more drugs (odds ratio 9.8, P = 0.04). Conclusion: adverse drug reactions are an important cause of hospital admis sions in older people. A fall before admission may indicate a severe advers e drug reaction.