Adverse drug reactions causing hospital admission in an elderly population: experience with a decision algorithm.
An adverse drug reaction (ADR) decision algorithm was used in the review of 100 consecutive hospital admissions of elderly patients cared for by family physicians. The algorithm is a valid methodologic alternative to using pharmacological experts for verification of an ADR. In this study, the algorithm was easily applied by family physicians, and the results were similar to those reported by expert clinical pharmacologists. Nine percent of our elderly patients' hospital admissions were caused by ADRs that were due to usual doses of medications commonly prescribed for elderly patients. Average age of patients and number of medications were similar for persons with and without ADRs. The algorithm can be useful to physicians investigating ADRs for clinical research, physician education, quality assurance, and improved patient care.
Smucker
W D
WD
Family Practice Center of Akron, OH 44304.
Kontak
J R
JR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003663:Decision Trees; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male