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Hospitalisations caused by adverse drug reactions (ADR): a meta-analysis of observational studies

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Abstract

Aim: to establish the percentage hospital admission related to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from the data available in the literature.Method: literature search in the Medline database, meta-analysis.Results: from the literature it is revealed that a considerable part of all hospital admissions are related to adverse drug reactions. However, these data are not homogenous, i.e. larger studies display a lower percentage of ADR related hospital admission, while smaller studies display a higher percentage. Subgroup analysis showed that for elderly people the odds of being hospitalised by ADR related problems is 4 times higher than for younger ones (16.6% vs. 4.1%). A considerable part of these hospitalisations can be prevented. Subgroup analysis revealed that in the elderly up to 88% of the ADR related hospitalisations are preventable; for the non-elderly this is only 24%. Comparatively more elderly people are hospitalised than younger ones. Combining these findings, twice as much elderly people are hospitalised by ADR related problems than non-elderly, while preventability of ADR related hospitalisation might yield 7 times more people in the elderly than in the non-elderly. The estimation of the costs of ADR related hospitalisations in the Health Care system in The Netherlands is discussed.Conclusion: many elderly people are hospitalised by ADR related problems; an important part of these hospitalisations can be avoided.

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  1. Scientific Institute Dutch Pharmacists (WINAp), P.O.Box 30460, 2500 GL, The Hague, The Netherlands

    H.J.M. Beijer & C.J. de Blaey

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Beijer, H., de Blaey, C. Hospitalisations caused by adverse drug reactions (ADR): a meta-analysis of observational studies. Pharm World Sci 24, 46–54 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015570104121

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