[Incidence and preventability of adverse events in patients hospitalised in three Colombian hospitals during 2006].
OBJECTIVE
Determining adverse event (AE) incidence, preventability, classification and impact for establishing their importance as a public health problem within the Colombian Social Security System.


METHODS
This was a study of a prospective inpatient cohort from three Colombian general-practice institutions.


METHODS
at least 12 hours' length of hospital stay during 2006.


METHODS
suffering psychiatric disorders and AE which had occurred before hospitalisation indexing. The sample consisted of 6 557 patients.


METHODS
clinical charts. Being a three-phase design, the first phase consisted of translating and standardising screening and causation formats, phase II of actively monitoring screening criteria and phase III of evaluating causation regarding the care being provided, based on specialist committee concept on a 0-6 scale. The variables measured were age, gender, social security affiliation, cumulative AE incidence, temporality, preventability of AE and disability resulting from them.


RESULTS
6,688 patients were evaluated; 505 of them fulfilled positive screening criteria (95 % CI=7,9;7,3-8,6), 310 presented at least one AE during their hospitalisation (95 %CI for accumulated incidence=4,6; 4,1-5,1). AE were considered to have been preventable in 189 cases (95 % CI=61;55-66) and permanent disability occurred in 1,3 % of them. AE-associated mortality was 6,4 % (20/310). Hospitalisation became increased to 1 072 days as a direct consequence of AE.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed an important incidence of AE in three Colombian hospitals, these being mainly preventable. Their ongoing monitoring as a part of risk management systems could reduce costs and AE-associated morbidity and mortality.
Gaitán-Duarte
Hernando
H
Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. hggaitand@unal.edu.co
Eslava-Schmalbach
Javier
J
Rodríguez-Malagon
Nelcy
N
Forero-Supelano
Víctor
V
Santofimio-Sierra
Dagoberto
D
Altahona
Hernando
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003105:Colombia; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management; D017751:Safety Management; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012943:Social Security; D013997:Time Factors