[Evaluation of the workload resulting from iatrogenic pathology in a medical ward in a regional hospital].
OBJECTIVE
1) To estimate the burden to diagnose and treat iatrogenic disorders out of all the activities of a referral hospital's medical ward. 2) To investigate about the main causes making the iatrogenic disorders arouse.


METHODS
The entire series of iatrogenic disorder bearing patients (in- and out-), treated in the Institute of Medical Pathology of Ancona throughout a period of two years, were studied retrospectively. The low therapeutic index treatments (i.e. antiproliferative drugs, therapies under emergency, surgical amputations) were ruled out. The data to address the objectives were gathered.


CONCLUSIONS
1) Highly probable iatrogenic disorders were diagnosed in 84/1620 patients (5.2%). 2) For this task 108/2763 medical performances were carried out (3.9%); 3) iatrogenic disorders were Slight in 20 (24%), Moderate in 44 (52%) and Severe in 20 (24%) patients. 4) Some facilitaters (poor monitoring of adverse drug reactions, primary disease incorrect treatment, poor accuracy of primary disease diagnosis, incoordination among therapists) were detected in 32, 25, 14, and 7%. 5) The most commonly occurring facilitaters were detected more frequently in Severe rather than Non Severe iatrogenic disorder bearing patients. 6) Severe iatrogenic disorders and the serious consequences of them, such as death and permanent serious harm, occur more often, when there are combinations of facilitaters; 7) Costs were minor in 69% and major in 31%.
Campanella
N
N
Istituto di Patologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto I, Torrette, Ancona.
Pergolini
M
M
Moraca
A
A
Daher
W
W
Borgognoni
C
C
Morosini
P
P
D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*