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Hospital admissions to geriatric ward related to adverse drug events: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic

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Abstract

Background Geriatric patients represent a vulnerable population in terms of adverse drug events (ADEs). Objective The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and preventability of hospital admissions to a geriatric ward related to ADEs, to identify medications involved in these ADEs and to describe potential preventability aspects of ADE-related admissions. Setting University Hospital Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated acute hospital admissions to the geriatric ward of University Hospital Hradec Králové over a period of nine months (April–December 2017). Medication reviews were performed in order to identify ADE-related hospital admissions. Causality was assessed using the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre criteria. Modified Schumock-Thornton algorithm was used to assess the preventability of ADEs. Main outcome measure 9-month-prevalence of ADE-related hospital admissions. Results A total of 366 hospital admissions were included. The 9-month-prevalence of ADE-related hospital admissions was 11.75% [95% confidence interval 8.45–15.05]. Antithrombotic agents and diuretics represented the most common medication classes associated with ADEs (30.2% each). Electrolyte disturbances and gastrointestinal haemorrhages and ulcerations were the most frequently observed ADEs associated with hospital admission. Out of 43 ADE-related hospitalisations, 23 (53.5%) were considered potentially preventable. Conclusion The contribution of ADEs to hospital admission to the geriatric ward was not negligible. Our results also suggest that 53.5% of identified ADE-related admissions could be potentially prevented. This finding demonstrates just how important the research on the preventability of medication-related hospitalisations is. Further studies and implementations are still needed aiming to minimize the risk of medication-related harm.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Charles University (Project SVV 260 551).

Funding

This study was supported by Charles University (Project SVV 260 551).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203/8, 500 05, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

    Martina Maříková, Zuzana Očovská, Aleš Antonín Kuběna & Jiří Vlček

  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Hospital Pharmacy, University Hospital Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

    Martina Maříková & Jiří Vlček

  3. 3rd Department of Internal – Medicine Metabolic Care and Gerontology, University Hospital Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

    Vladimír Nerad & Vladimír Blaha

  4. Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

    Vladimír Blaha

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  1. Martina Maříková
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  2. Zuzana Očovská
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  3. Vladimír Nerad
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  4. Aleš Antonín Kuběna
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Correspondence to Jiří Vlček.

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This study was approved by University Hospital Hradec Králové (number of the ethics approval letter 201701S13R). Patient informed consent was not required due to the observational design of the study.

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Maříková, M., Očovská, Z., Nerad, V. et al. Hospital admissions to geriatric ward related to adverse drug events: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic. Int J Clin Pharm 43, 1218–1226 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-021-01237-y

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