BACKGROUND: A meta-analysis of 25 international studies suggests that 4.2-6.0% of medical admissions are the result of an adverse drug reaction (ADR). One Irish study has found that 8.8% of admissions to a university teaching hospital were attributable to ADRs. AIM: To develop and evaluate a process to detect ADR-related medical admissions to a university teaching hospital in North Dublin. METHODS: A screening process was developed to detect ADR-related admissions based on a previous Scottish study. Having evaluated the accuracy of the screening process in a large Dublin-based university teaching hospital, the same methodology was then applied to medical admissions occurring over a 9-day period. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the screening process were 100 and 97%, respectively. The incidence of ADR-related hospitalization from 137 admissions was 5.1% (95% CI 1.4-8.8%). Of the ADRs, six were type A (predictable and preventable) and one was a type B (uncommon ADRs) reaction. Of the seven ADRs, two were considered to be unavoidable while five were potentially avoidable. High-risk medications namely anticoagulants, antiplatelets and antihypertensives were identified as causative medications. CONCLUSIONS: This study outlines the feasibility of screening for ADR-related admission in the hospital setting. ADRs constitute an important and avoidable cause of hospital admission.
BACKGROUND: A meta-analysis of 25 international studies suggests that 4.2-6.0% of medical admissions are the result of an adverse drug reaction (ADR). One Irish study has found that 8.8% of admissions to a university teaching hospital were attributable to ADRs. AIM: To develop and evaluate a process to detect ADR-related medical admissions to a university teaching hospital in North Dublin. METHODS: A screening process was developed to detect ADR-related admissions based on a previous Scottish study. Having evaluated the accuracy of the screening process in a large Dublin-based university teaching hospital, the same methodology was then applied to medical admissions occurring over a 9-day period. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the screening process were 100 and 97%, respectively. The incidence of ADR-related hospitalization from 137 admissions was 5.1% (95% CI 1.4-8.8%). Of the ADRs, six were type A (predictable and preventable) and one was a type B (uncommon ADRs) reaction. Of the seven ADRs, two were considered to be unavoidable while five were potentially avoidable. High-risk medications namely anticoagulants, antiplatelets and antihypertensives were identified as causative medications. CONCLUSIONS: This study outlines the feasibility of screening for ADR-related admission in the hospital setting. ADRs constitute an important and avoidable cause of hospital admission.
Authors: J G Dartnell; R P Anderson; V Chohan; K J Galbraith; M E Lyon; P J Nestor; R F Moulds Journal: Med J Aust Date: 1996-06-03 Impact factor: 7.738
Authors: Emma C Davies; Christopher F Green; Stephen Taylor; Paula R Williamson; David R Mottram; Munir Pirmohamed Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-02-11 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Sze Ling Chan; Xiaohui Ang; Levana L Sani; Hong Yen Ng; Michael D Winther; Jian Jun Liu; Liam R Brunham; Alexandre Chan Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2016-09-19 Impact factor: 4.335