TY - JOUR AU - Banholzer, Sarah AU - Dunkelmann, Lea AU - Haschke, Manuel AU - Derungs, Adrian AU - Exadaktylos, Aristomenis AU - Krähenbühl, Stephan AU - Liakoni, Evangelia PY - 2021/01/20 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Retrospective analysis of adverse drug reactions leading to short-term emergency hospital readmission JF - Swiss Medical Weekly JA - Swiss Med Wkly VL - 151 IS - 0304 SE - Original article DO - 10.4414/smw.2021.20400 UR - https://smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2945 SP - w20400 AB - <p><strong>AIMS OF THE STUDY</strong> <p>Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are an important cause of hospital admissions. Insufficient data are available about the frequency and characteristics of ADR-related emergency readmissions in Switzerland. The aim of this retrospective study was to characterise ADRs related to short-term emergency readmissions in a large Swiss University Hospital and to assess their reporting frequency.</p> <strong>METHODS</strong> <p>Electronic records of all patients discharged from the University Hospital Bern within a 12-month period (1 January to 31 December 2012) and emergency readmission within 30 calendar days were reviewed. Case inclusion required a known ADR. Cases with intentional overdosing, lack of compliance or insufficient documentation were excluded. Identified ADR-related readmission cases were searched in the Swiss ADR reporting system to assess reporting rate.</p> <strong>RESULTS</strong> <p>There were 1294 emergency readmissions among the 4792 readmissions (14% of all admissions) within 30 days after discharge. We identified 270 cases of ADR-related readmissions, corresponding to 21% of emergency readmissions and 6% of all readmissions within 30 days. The most frequent ADRs were gastrointestinal disorders (26%), infections and infestations (19%), and nervous system disorders (10%). The most frequent drug classes leading to ADRs were antineoplastic/immunomodulating (35%) and antithrombotic agents (25%). Only 8 (3%) of the 270 cases were reported to the Swiss ADR reporting system.</p> <strong>CONCLUSION</strong> <p>ADR-related readmissions constituted a considerable part of short-term emergency readmissions. Despite being a relevant cause for rehospitalisation, only a minority of the ADRs were reported to the regulatory authorities. Strategies to prevent ADR-related readmissions and to improve reporting rates are needed.</p></p> ER -