Drug effects blamed for fifth of hospital deaths among elderly

A Norwegian study has shown that drug related side effects may contribute to nearly a fifth of all hospital deaths in elderly patients, particularly those who have more than one illness or are taking multiple medications (Archives of Internal Medicine 2001;161:2317-23). In almost half the cases looked at, inappropriate drugs were prescribed or the wrong doses or forms of drugs used.

Researchers at the Central Hospital of Akershus, Norway, analysed the records of all 732 patients who died among the 13992 …