50% of adverse drug reactions can be prevented
Over 50% of all adverse drug reactions treated in hospitals and emergency care are preventable. Human error is inevitable, and therefore systems must be made to reduce the error.
MANY PREVENTABLE drug reactions like drug overdoses and internal bleeding associated with the improper use of blood thinners and painkillers are life-threatening especially in the elderly. There are many reasons for these reactions and may include poor coordination of care, lack of time and knowledge among health professionals, and lack of patient education, according to Swedish researchers, who conducted a meta-analysis of 22 studies.
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- In outpatient setting, the frequency of preventable adverse drug reactions resulting in hospitalization or emergency treatment is 2% and of these 51 percent are preventable.
- In the elderly, 71 percent of drug reactions are preventable.
- In admitted patients the frequency of harmful drug reactions is 1.6percent and 45 percent of them are preventable.
- A third of preventable adverse drug reactions are life-threatening.
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