Adverse drug events in the elderly.
BACKGROUND
Increasing recognition of the burden associated with iatrogenic disease has led to international interest into how best to promote patient safety. Within this field, the subject of adverse drug events (ADEs) has received particular attention, this reflecting the known high frequency with which such events occur, particularly in the elderly.


METHODS
We conducted a narrative review summarizing epidemiological data on medication-related adverse events in elderly people, considering various known causes of such events and suggesting practical ways in which prescribing can be made safer for high-risk populations.


RESULTS
There is an increasing recognition that a relatively high proportion of ADEs in the elderly may be preventable. Systems issues have been found to play a particularly powerful role in this context, resulting in several promising approaches to address the problem.


CONCLUSIONS
Relatively simple system changes have the potential to reduce the burden associated with medication-related adverse events in the elderly.
Cresswell
Kathrin M
KM
Division of Community Health Sciences, General Practice Section, University of Edinburgh, 20 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DX, UK.
Fernando
Bernard
B
McKinstry
Brian
B
Sheikh
Aziz
A
D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D012308:Risk Management