The toxic effects of medications and drug-related problems can have profound safety consequences for older adults. One source estimates that 30% of hospital admissions in elderly patients may be linked to drug-related problems or drug toxic effects. A 1997 study of adverse drug events (ADE) found that 35% of ambulatory older adults experienced and ADE and 29% required health care services including medical care in an emergency room or hospitalization.
If medication-related problems were ranked as a disease by cause of death, it would be the 5th leading cause of death in the United States according to the publication, Long Term Living.
Will someone in the health care industry explain why this occurs?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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