Drug-related deaths in hospital inpatients : A retrospective cohort study
Montané, Eva (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia)
Arellano, Ana Lucía (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia)
Sanz, Yolanda (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol)
Roca, Josep (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol)
Farré, Magi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia)

Date:	2018
Abstract:	Aims: To determine the incidence of drug-related deaths (DRD) in a university hospital in 2015, to describe their characteristics, and to discover risk factors of DRD. Methods: An analytic and retrospective cohort study. Patients with a death diagnosed predefined from a list of medical conditions potentially caused by drugs were the selected cases for further review. Causality assessment was evaluated by a local drug safety committee. Results: Out of 1135 inpatient deaths, 73 DRD were included (six were hospital-acquired). The incidence of DRD of all hospital admissions was 0. 34%, and the incidence of all deaths cases was 7%. Drugs were the cause of death in 38 patients (52%) and a contributive role in 35 (48%). The median age of DRD patients was 72 years (range 19-94) and 72. 6% were men. The median hospital stay, Charlson score and number of drugs were 5 days, 2 points and seven drugs respectively. The most frequent DRD were cerebral haemorrhages and infections in drug-immunosuppressed patients (32, 43. 8%, each group). The most frequently involved drugs were antineoplastics and glucocorticosteroids (40% and 18%), and antithrombotics (33%); drug-drug interactions were present in 44% DRD. Sex, age and number of drugs were risk factors of DRD. Conclusions: Adverse drug reactions were a significant cause of death in hospitalized patients, mainly haemorrhages and infections precipitated by drug-drug interactions. Risk factors for DRD were sex, age and number of drugs. Preventable DRD and measures to avoid them should be accurately assessed in further studies.
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Adverse drug reaction ; Hospital mortality ; Incidence ; Epidemiology
Published in:	British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Vol. 84 Núm. 3 (march 2018) , p. 542-552, ISSN 1365-2125

DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13471
PMID: 29148077

28 p, 430.7 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut d'Investigació en Ciencies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles