The frequency of emergency department visits associated with adverse drug reactions in Dokuz Eylul University hospital.

OBJECTIVES: The frequency of adverse drug reactions (AİRs) lead to the emergency department (ED) visits was unknown in Turkey. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the frequency of AİRs related ED visits in Dokuz Eylul University Hospital.METHODS: In this prospective descriptive study, all patients older than 17 years old that were admitted to our ED during one-week periods of four different seasons between July 2010 and April 2011 were enrolled the study. We excluded the patients who have not taken any medication in the medical history during last 15 days. Demographics of the patients, main reason of the ED visit, medical history and last diagnosis, classification, duration and exposure route of the medication were recorded. Drug-drug and drug-food and drug-herbal product interactions were also evaluated. Data were evaluated by the project team. Causality assessment of AİRs was done according to WHO-UMC causality categories, and AİRs were categorized as certain, probable or possible.RESULTS: The number of all patients admitted to ED was 6928 during the study periods. Patients who have not any medication use were excluded from the study (n=5090, 73.5%). Of the patients who are on medications, 26.5% (n=1838) were evaluated for AİR-related ED admissions. Mean age was 51.1 ±19.2 (range 18-95). Male/female ratio was 0.75. Certain, probable and possible advers drug reactions accounted for 5.9% (n=108). The most frequently seen AİRs-related symptoms upon arrival were pruritus (19.4%, n=21), abdominal pain (14.8%, n=16) and diarrhea (10.2%, n=11). According to the main anatomic therapeutic classification (ATC), drugs that caused AİRs were antibacterials (31.6%, n=37), digestive system drugs (14.5%, n=17), anticoagulant drugs (12%, n=14). We did not observe any AİR-related death in our study.DISCUSSIONS: In our ED, nearly 5.9% of the admissions were medication-related AİRs. Our results showed that non-traumatic ED visits caused by AİRs are common. AİRs should always be considered ED patients who are on medication