Prevalence of fatal adverse drug reactions in hospitalized XXXX .

@entity1 @entity548 @entity299 @entity1964 @entity204 @entity360 @entity288
OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence of fatal adverse drug reactions (FADRs) in a hospitalized population, identify the drugs involved and investigate reported risk factors for these events. METHODS: The study population of this retrospective, single-centre case study comprised 289 @entity1 dying between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2004 and registered in the Cause of Death Register of a teaching hospital. All compiled data were recorded by two observers especially trained to identify and report adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The degree of probability that the ADR led directly to @entity204 was determined by using WHO criteria and an adapted version of Naranjo's score. RESULTS: Among 289 deceased study subjects, 17 (5.9%) were suspected to have died from an ADR. The most common suspected FADRs were @entity360 (52.9%), central nervous system @entity548 (17.6%), @entity299 (17.6%), drug-induced myelosuppression (6%) and antimicrobial-related @entity1964 (6%). The drugs most frequently implicated in a FADR were antithrombotic drugs (65%), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (47%) and @entity288 (29%). The only risk factors associated with FADRs in this population were multiple-drug therapy and the presence of platelet antiaggregants and NSAIDs, alone or associated. CONCLUSIONS: FADRs are an important cause of @entity204 in hospitalized @entity1 . @entity548 were seen in a majority of the fatal reactions, and antithrombotic agents or NSAIDs were implicated in most of these events.
