title: Drug-related deaths among medical inpatients.
abstract: Among 26,462 carefully monitored medical inpatients, 24, or 0.9 per 1,000, were considered to have died as a result of a drug or group of drugs. Most of the patients were seriously ill prior to the event that caused death. Six of the deaths-five from fluid overload and one from excessive potassium therapy-may have been preventable.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy; D013299:Streptodornase and Streptokinase / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D003366:Cosyntropin; D006493:Heparin; D013299:Streptodornase and Streptokinase