Drug related medical emergencies in the elderly: role of adverse drug reactions and non-compliance. Issue 913 (1st November 2001)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Malhotra, S; Karan, R S; Pandhi, P; Jain, S
• Is Part Of: Postgraduate medical journal. Volume 77:Issue 913(2001)
• Page Start: 703
• Page End: 707
• Publication Date: 2001-11-01
• Subjects: adverse drug reactions -- non-compliance -- drug related medical emergencies -- elderly; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/pmj.77.913.703
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-5473

Abstract

Abstract : BACKGROUND: Adverse drug reactions and non-compliance are important causes of admissions in the elderly to medical clinics. The contribution of adverse drug reactions and non-compliance to admission by the medical emergency department was analysed. METHODS: A total of 578 consecutive elderly patients admitted to the medical emergency department were interviewed to determine the percentage of admissions due to adverse drug reactions or non-compliance with medication regimens, their causes, consequences, and predictors. RESULTS: Eighty three (14.4%) of the 578 admissions were drug related: 39 (6.7%) caused by adverse drug reactions and 44 (7.6%) caused by non-compliance with medication. One hundred ninety two (33.2%) patients had a history of non-compliance. Factors associated with an increased risk of admission because of an adverse drug reaction were patients with diabetes or neoplasms, and patients using numerous different medications. Factors associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation because of non-compliance were poor recall of the medication regimen, seeing numerous physicians, female sex, polypharmacy, drug costs, and switching over to non-conventional forms of treatment. CONCLUSION: Many elderly admissions are drug related, with non-compliance accounting for a substantial fraction of these. Elderly people at high risk of suffering a drug related medical emergency are identified and suitable interventions may be planned by the healthcare policymakers to target them.