Journal Review
Hafner JW, Belknap SM, Squillante MD, et al. Adverse drug events in emergency department patients. Ann Emerg Med 2002; 29:258-267.
ED visits due to adverse drug events (ADEs) are important to consider, and the majority of them are significant, says this study from Saint Francis Medical Center and the University of Illinois College of Medicine, both in Peoria, IL. The study reviewed the charts of 13,004 ED patients. Here are key findings:
Probable adverse drug events had occurred in 217 patients, and 321 had suspected adverse drug events (a total of 1.7% of ED visits). Insulin, warfarin, and furosemide were the drugs that most commonly caused adverse drug events. Patients with adverse drug events tended to be older, female, took more drugs, and were hospitalized more often.
The researchers recommend monitoring ED patients for adverse drug events to identify problems with medications. "For example, ongoing screening of ADEs occurring in a diverse sample of EDs might shorten the delay between introduction of a new drug and recognition of serious adverse effects of that drug unrecognized in initial clinical trials," they write.
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