[Direct costs and hospital morbimortality impact from preventable adverse drug events].
BACKGROUND
Implementing pharmacovigilance activities consists of monitoring and assessment of activities related to medical attention. However, additional data are necessary to identify conditions where care quality can be improved. Therefore, a focus on adverse drug events analysis from a prevention and economic perspective is needed, with emphasis on its local impact.


OBJECTIVE
Preventable adverse drug events were summarized to establishing their impact on morbidity and mortality, as well as to estimate the ensuing economic burden.


METHODS
The data were gathered from a level 3 hospital (high complexity), located in Bogotá, Colombia, where specific pharmacovigilance activities were recorded in 2007. Patient charts were reviewed to characterize adverse drug events according to their causality, severity and preventability. Direct costs were estimated by grouping diagnostic tests, length of hospitalization, procedures and additional drugs required.


RESULTS
The charts of 283 patients and 448 reports were analyzed. These data indicated that 24.8% of adverse drug events were preventable and that an associated mortality of 1.1% had occurred. The associated direct costs were between USD $16,687 and $18,739. Factors more commonly associated with preventability were drug-drug interactions, as well as inappropriate doses and unsuitable frequencies at which the drugs were administrated.


CONCLUSIONS
The data recommended that actions be taken to decrease preventable adverse drug events, because of negative impact on patient´s health, and unnecessary consumption of healthcare resources.
Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. ferpin06@yahoo.com
José Fernando
JF
Pinzón
Carlos
C
Maldonado
Jorge A
JA
Díaz
Omar
O
Segura
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015984:Causality; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006753:Hospital Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060735:Pharmacovigilance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000191:economics*; D055815:Young Adult