Contribution of adverse drug reactions to hospital admission of older patients

OBJECTIVE: To describe the severity of adverse drug reactions as a factor in 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 patients. Thirteen patients (12%; 95% confidence interval 6.1-18.6%) were admitted pr... Mehr ...