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Factors associated with adverse drug reactions in older inpatients in teaching hospital

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Abstract

Background Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occur frequently during hospital stays and are an important public health problem, particularly in the care of the older. Objectives This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ADRs among older inpatients and the factors associated with their occurrence. Setting Brazilian teaching hospital. Methods This was a cross-sectional study with older inpatients in the internal medicine ward of a teaching hospital. The dependent variable was the occurrence of an ADR during hospitalization. The independent variables were gender, age, length of hospitalization, number of health problems, medications, and potentially inappropriate medications for the older. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the association between an ADR and the independent variables. Main outcome measure Factors associated with ADR in older inpatients. Results Among the 237 inpatients investigated, 50 (21.1%) developed at least one ADR. The total number of ADRs observed was 62 and the most frequent were acute kidney injury, hypotension, and cutaneous adverse reactions A multivariate analysis demonstrated a positive and independent association between the occurrence of an ADR and the presence of heart failure [odds ratio (OR) 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–4.6], and with hospitalization time exceeding 12 days (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.2–4.4). Conclusions The study showed a high prevalence of ADRs among the older and a positive association with hospitalization time and heart failure. Understanding the factors associated with the occurrence of ADRs among older inpatients provides elements for improving the safety of care and optimization of pharmacotherapy.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais for supporting this publication through the Qualitative Improvement Program of Scientific Production and Fundação de Apoio a Pesquisa de Minas Gerais-FAPEMIG for providing a scientific initiation scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100, Brasil

    Tácita Pires de Figueiredo, Ronara Camila de Souza Groia & Soraya Coelho Costa Barroso

  2. Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brasil

    Mariana Martins Gonzaga do Nascimento & Adriano Max Moreira Reis

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  1. Tácita Pires de Figueiredo
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  2. Ronara Camila de Souza Groia
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  3. Soraya Coelho Costa Barroso
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  4. Mariana Martins Gonzaga do Nascimento
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  5. Adriano Max Moreira Reis
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Correspondence to Adriano Max Moreira Reis.

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de Figueiredo, T.P., de Souza Groia, R.C., Barroso, S.C.C. et al. Factors associated with adverse drug reactions in older inpatients in teaching hospital. Int J Clin Pharm 39, 679–685 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-017-0473-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-017-0473-z

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