The assessment of adverse events in hospitals in Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence of adverse events in Brazilian hospitals.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study based on patient record review.


METHODS
Three teaching hospitals in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


METHODS
Random sample (1103) of 27 350 adult patients admitted in 2003. Patients under 18 years old, psychiatric patients and patients whose length of stay was less than 24 hr were excluded, and obstetric cases were included.


METHODS
Incidence of patients with adverse events; proportion of preventable adverse events; number of adverse events per 100 patients and incidence density of adverse events per 100 patient-days.


RESULTS
The incidence of patients with adverse events was 7.6% (84 of 1103 patients). The overall proportion of preventable adverse events was 66.7% (56 of 84 patients). The incidence density was 0.8 adverse events per 100 patient-days (103 of 13,563 patient-days). The patient's ward was the most frequent location of adverse events (48.5%). In regard to classification, surgical adverse events were the most frequent ones (35.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of patients with adverse events at the three hospitals was similar to that in international studies. However, the proportion of preventable adverse events was much higher in the Brazilian hospitals.
Mendes
Walter
W
National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Martins
Mônica
M
Rozenfeld
Suely
S
Travassos
Claudia
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult