Adverse drug events in cognitively impaired elderly patients.
OBJECTIVE
Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a frequent problem encountered in the elderly. The aim of this study was to elucidate the factors that influence ADEs in an elderly population with cognitive impairment.


METHODS
242 patients were recruited from dementia clinics and assessed after 6 months for ADEs. The use of natural health products (NHPs) was also documented.


RESULTS
Backward logistic regression found that higher age (OR = 1.06; 95% CI 1.01-1.12), and greater cognitive impairment (OR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.90-0.98) were associated with an increased risk of developing an ADE while the use of NHPs (OR = 0.32; 95% CI 0.13-0.79) was associated with a decreased risk (chi(2) = 27.6, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Risk of ADEs increased with greater age and cognitive impairment but decreased with the use of NHPs.
Ganjavi
Hooman
H
Neuropharmacology Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Herrmann
Nathan
N
Rochon
Paula A
PA
Sharma
Papita
P
Lee
Monica
M
Cassel
Daniel
D
Freedman
Morris
M
Black
Sandra E
SE
Lanctôt
Krista L
KL
D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009864:Ontario; D012307:Risk Factors; D012646:Self Administration / Q000009:adverse effects; D012651:Self Medication / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index