Over Half of Adverse Drug Reactions in Hospitals Are Preventable

More than one-half of all adverse drug reactions treated in hospitals and emergency care are preventable, according to a new study.

In addition, prior research has shown that many preventable drug reactions — which include drug overdoses and internal bleeding associated with the improper use of blood thinners and painkillers — are life-threatening, said the Swedish researchers. This widespread problem, which is even more common among the elderly, has important implications for health care systems, they said.

There are many reasons for the high numbers of preventable adverse drug reactions, according to Katja Hakkarainen, a pharmacist from the Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg. These may include “poor coordination of care, lack of time and knowledge among health professionals, and lack of patient education,” she said in an International Pharmaceutical Federation news release. “Unfortunately there is no consensus today on what to do” to prevent adverse drug reactions, she said.