Publication:

A study of adverse drug reactions among elderly patients in a tertiary care hospital

Background Adverse drug reactions are major setback in the advancement of current therapeutic modalities and safe treatment becomes a challenge in elderly patients. Multifarious health issues in elderly patients require assorted groups of drugs leading to prominent ADRs (Adeverse drug reactions). This study was designed to analyse the most affront drug group causing ADRs among elderly patients and the most frequent signs and symptoms of ADR in tertiary care hospital.

Methods All elderly inpatients aged 60 years and above were included in the study. Clinical pharmacist monitored and reported ADRs which were analysed by pharmacologist and physicians. The drugs causing ADRs were identified and different signs and symptoms of ADR were evaluated.

Results A total of 810 (7.26%) ADRs were reported from 11157 inpatients. Out of 810 ADRs reported 320 (39.5%) ADRs were among elderly patients. ADR analyses showed a sight male predominance among elderly patients. Antibacterial agents were the most offended drug group contributing for 18.76% of ADR’s. Gastointestinal tract was the most frequently affected system with maximum number of ADRs 102 (31.88%).

Conclusions ADRs are major threat to hospitalized elderly patients. The risk of ADRs can be reduced by dosing the drug according to the age of the patient and by close monitoring of patients.