Postdischarge adverse drug reactions in primary care originating from hospital care in France - A nationwide prospective study

Objective: To describe and estimate the incidence and preventability of pos tdischarge adverse drug reactions (ADRs) detected in primary care in France . Design: Prospective study of patients referred to hospital by participating general practitioners (GPs). These GPs reported all cases of an adverse re action to a drug instituted in hospital among patients who consulted them w ithin 30 days of discharge. Setting: 305 general practices from all French regions. Patients: 7540 patients referred by GPs to private or public hospitals. Main outcome measures: The incidence for postdischarge ADRs in primary care , and their preventability. Results: 30 cases of postdischarge ADR were detected in 29 re-consulting pa tients, yielding a minimal incidence for France of 0.4 per 100 admissions ( 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 0.6). The ADRs were assessed as serious in 6 0% of cases. The main drug classes implicated were cardiovascular drugs (8 ADRs), oral anticoagulants (6), psychoactive drugs (4), antidiabetics (3), and opioid analgesics (3). Patients experiencing a postdischarge ADR were o lder than patients not experiencing one (median age: 77 vs 68 years; p = 0. 004). Detected ADRs were considered preventable in 59% of cases. Conclusions: Physicians and patients should be aware of the possible occurr ence of postdischarge ADRs. Patient information in hospital, close postdisc harge follow-up of patients at risk, and appropriate transmission of inform ation between hospital physicians and GPs can help to prevent them.