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Risk factors in preventable adverse drug events in pediatric outpatients

Stephanie O Zandieh1, Donald A Goldmann, Carol A Keohane

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College and Komansky Center for Children's Health at New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|January 22, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children receiving multiple prescriptions face a higher risk of preventable adverse drug events (ADEs). This study highlights the need for better healthcare provider communication to mitigate these pediatric medication safety risks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric pharmacology
  • Medication safety
  • Health disparities

Background:

  • Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant concern in pediatric ambulatory care.
  • Understanding disparities in ADEs is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Previous research has not fully explored risk factors for preventable ADEs in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, linguistic, and educational disparities in pediatric ADEs.
  • To identify risk factors associated with preventable ADEs in children treated in ambulatory settings.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study involving pediatric patients under 21 years old.
  • Data collected from 6 Boston-area practices over two 2-month periods (July 2002-April 2003).
  • Analysis included descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis to identify risk factors for preventable ADEs.

Main Results:

  • 1689 pediatric patients and 2155 prescriptions were analyzed.
  • 14% of children experienced an ADE; 23% of these were preventable.
  • Children with multiple prescriptions had a significantly increased risk (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.01-2.11) of preventable ADEs, even after controlling for demographic factors.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple prescriptions are a key risk factor for preventable ADEs in pediatric patients.
  • Improved communication among healthcare providers and between providers and patients is essential.
  • Further research should focus on strategies to reduce ADEs in children with complex medication regimens.
Abstract

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