[Retrospective analysis of adverse side-effects of medication in elderly patients at a primary care health centre].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the adverse drug events (ADEs) reported by doctors of a primary health care centre in the patient's medical record.


METHODS
A retrospective, descriptive study.


METHODS
Burriana Health Centre (Castellón), Spain.


METHODS
All patients over 75 with a clinical history held on paper at the health centre, ie non-institutionalized patients seen on an out-patient basis, were checked.


METHODS
A total of 2044 paper-based medical records were analysed, in which 832 histories describing 1893 ADEs (90.4% unforeseen and 9.6% preventable) were found. This means that 41% of the patients experienced one or more adverse events, with an average of 2.28 ADEs per patient.


RESULTS
Most ADEs (85.3%) were light, but 6% were classified as serious, with high digestive haemorrhage caused by NSAIDs standing out as the most common serious problem (37.3%). The pharmaco-therapeutic groups most involved in ADEs were cardiovascular therapy (29.4%), anti-infectious drugs (21.2%) and nervous system drugs (20.1%). Seventeen cases of intoxication were detected (0.9% total ADEs), with digoxin responsible for 67% of the serious intoxications. It was observed that ADEs occur with statistical significance most frequently in women (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.42-2.10). After an age-stratified analysis, it was concluded that the only sub-group where the increase in risk was not significant was the group of people over 85 years old.


CONCLUSIONS
ADEs create a serious public health problem, with negative effects on patients. Although most ADEs are unforeseen (90.4%), it is still worrying that 9.6% of the ADEs identified are preventable.
Alós Almiñana
Manuel
M
Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital General Universitario de Castellón, Miembro del Comité Evaluador de Reacciones Adversas a Medicamentos de la Comunidad Valenciana, Castellón, Spain.
Bonet Deán
Marian
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies