Findings by investigators in Sweden and Norway suggest that adverse drug reactions cause approximately 3% of all deaths in the general population (Wester K et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008;65[4]:573-579).
The researchers identified every seventh randomly selected death in 3 counties in southeast Sweden in 2001 and reviewed medical records to identify suspected drug-related fatalities. They found that 49 of 1574 deceased persons (3.1%) in the study were suspected to have died of an adverse drug reaction.
Hemorrhage accounted for most of the fatalities, followed by cardiovascular disorders (10%) and renal dysfunction (6%). Antithrombotic agents were implicated in more than half of the suspected fatal drug reactions. Other drugs commonly associated with fatal reactions were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, and cardiovascular drugs.
"The medical burden of [fatal adverse drug reactions] is significant," the researchers noted, suggesting that preventive measures should be taken to reduce drug-related . . . [Full Text of this Article]
