[Detection and analysis of adverse drug reactions in a general hospital's emergency department]

To detect and analyze adverse drug reactions (ADR) leading to emergency room visits in our hospital, as well as their severity and outcome, and medications most commonly involved, from selected alerting diagnoses.

A retrospective study for the period from January 2003 to December 2004, where all reports by the emergency department including our wanted diagnoses were reviewed.

A total of 1,626 reports with alerting diagnoses were found, of which 444 (27.3%) were confirmed as potential adverse drug reactions. Of 444 cases, 345 (77.7%) were discharged to their homes and 90 (20%) were admitted. In all, 52.9% of adverse drug reactions were considered moderate, and 19.6% were considered serious. The major age group involved was that of patients older than 65 years (65.1%), and was involved in 83.9% of adverse drug reactions. Drugs most commonly involved included insulins (26.1%), diuretics (17.3%), digoxin (10.9%), and oral antidiabetics (9.5%). Major organs and systems involved included the endocrine system (55.6%), musculoskeletal system (11%) and cardiovascular system (10.8%).

Drugs commonly used in clinical practice, including insulins, diuretics or oral antidiabetics induce many of the adverse reactions that lead patients to visit emergency departments. A closer monitoring of therapies is still needed to prevent adverse drug reactions.