Admissions through the emergency department due to drug-related problems

Yosef H Al-Olah, Khalifa M Al Thiab, Yosef H Al-Olah, Khalifa M Al Thiab

Abstract

Background and objectives: Hospital admissions due to drug-related problems (DRPs) have been studied internationally, but local data are limited. Therefore, we undertook a prospective, observational study of all admmissions through the emergency department (ED) at a tertiary referral hospital in Saudi Arabia to determine the incidence of admissions through the ED due to DRPs, types of DRPs, length of stay (LOS) in the hospital after ED admissions due to DRPs, and assessment of preventability of admissions due to DRPs.

Methods: All admissions through the ED over a period of 28 consecutive days were evaluated to determine if they were due to definite or possible DRPs. Data was collected on a daily basis for each admission over the previous 24 hours. Each incident was assessed by three investigators.

Results: Of 557 patients admitted through the ED, 82 (14.7%) admissions were due to DRP (53 definite, 29 possible). The most common types of DRP were failure to receive medication in 25 cases (47.2%), an adverse drug reaction in 13 cases (24.5%), and drug overdose in 6 cases (11.3%). In the definite DRP group, 83.0% were definitely preventable, 3.8% were possibly preventable and 13.2% were definitely non-preventable.

Conclusion: DRPs are a serious and costly issue facing health care professionals and health care systems. Most admissions due to DRPs are avoidable.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Types of definite drug-related problems. Percentages are of all definite drug-related problems (n=53).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Numbers of definite and possible drug-related problems (DRPs). Percentages are of all admissions (n=557).

References

    1. Bhalla N, Duggan C, Dhillon S. The incidence and nature of drug-related admissions to hospital. The pharmaceutical journal. 2003;270:583–6.
    1. Patel P, Zed PJ. Drug-related visits to the emergency department: how big is the problem? Pharmacotherapy. 2002;22(7):915–23.
    1. Hepler CD, Strand LM. Opportunities and responsibilities in pharmaceutical care. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1990;47:533–43.
    1. Einarson TR. Drug-related hospital admissions. Ann Pharmacother. 1993;27:832–40.
    1. Nelson KM, Talbert RL. Drug-related hospital admissions. Pharmacotherapy. 1996;16:701–7.
    1. Anderson J, Jay S, Anderson M, Hunt T. Evaluating the Capability of Information Technology to Prevent Adverse Drug Events: A computer Simulation Approach. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2002;9:479–90.
    1. El Bagir M, Ahmed K. Drug-associated admissions to district hospital in Saudi Arabia. J Cli Pharm Ther. 1997;22:61–6.
    1. Ives TJ, Bentz EJ, Gwyther RE. Drug-related admissions to a family medicine service. Arch Intern Med. 1987;147:1117–20.
    1. Hallas J, Harvald B, Gram LF, et al. Drug related hospital admissions: the role of definitions and intensity of data collection, and the possibility of prevention. J Intern Med. 1990;228:73–90.
    1. Simon BJ. Drug-related problem in community setting. Clin Drug Invest. 2006;16:412–25.
    1. Kubiliene L, Liukenskyte S, Savickas A, Jureniene K. Survey on drug-related problems in Lithuania’s pharmacies. Medicina. 2006;42(5):424–8.
    1. Soendergaard B, Kirkeby B, Dinsen C, Herborg H, Kjellberg J, Staehr P. Drug-related problems in general practice: results from a development project in Denmark. Pharm World Sci. 2006;25(2):61–4.
    1. Blix HS, Viktil KK, Reikvam A, Mooger TA, Hjemaas BJ, Pretsch P, Vraalsen TF, Walaeth EK. The majority of hospitalized patients have drug-related problems: results from a prospective study in general hospitals. Eu J Clin Pharmacol. 2004;60(9):651–8.
    1. Hanlon JT, Lindbland CI, Gray SL. Can clinical pharmacy services have a positive impact on drug-related problems and health outcomes in community-based older adults? Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2004;2(1):3–13.
    1. Tom English Drug-related problem: once A $76.6 Billion Headach, Now A $ 177.4 Billion Migrain. Pharmacy Today. 2001;7(3)

Source: PubMed

Sponsors et collaborateurs

Les conditions médicales

Interventions en matière de drogue

3
S'abonner