Drug-induced admissions to medical wards at Jordan University Hospital

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of drug-induced disease necessitating hospital admission to Jordan University Hospital. This study also attempted to identify the most commonly involved drugs as well as the vulnerable groups of patients and the potential causes which favor the problem. All admissions to Internal Medicine Department were screened for drug-induced causality by detailed drug history and appropriate examination. The prevalence rate of drug-induced admissions was 3.6%, 52% of them were females. Many of the cases were of severe nature. Most of the cases were due to predictable effects of the drugs used, which were mainly chemotherapeutic agents. The bone marrow was the most affected body organ. Results are in agreement with reports published elsewhere and can be explained by the fact that Jordan University Hospital is the main teaching hospital in Jordan, has an intermediate location and is a referral hospital for oncology-hematology service.