Prevalence of Psychotropic Drugs in Cases of Severe Adverse Drug Reactions Leading to Unplanned Emergency Visits in General Hospitals
Stingl JC, Just KS, Schurig M, Böhme M, Steffens M, Schwab M, Seufferlein T, Dormann H (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Journal
Book Volume: 53
Pages Range: 133-137
Journal Issue: 3
DOI: 10.1055/a-1110-1010
Abstract
Introduction The prevalence of psychotropic drug use in our society is increasing especially in older adults, thereby provoking severe adverse drug reactions (ADR). To identify specific patient risk profiles associated with psychotropic drug use in the situation of polymedication. Methods Cases of ADRs in general emergency departments (ED) collected within the multi-center prospective observational study (ADRED) were analyzed (n=2215). We compared cases with use of psychotropic drugs and without concerning their clinical presentation at the ED. Results A third of patients (n=731, 33%) presenting to the ED with an ADR took at least 1 psychotropic drug. Patients with psychotropic drug use tended to be older, more often female, and took a higher number of drugs (all p<0.001). The frequency of falls was almost 3 times higher than compared to the non-psychotropic drug group (10.5 vs. 3.9%, p<0.001), and similar syncope was also more often seen in the psychotropic drug users (8.8 vs. 5.5%, p=0.004). The use of psychotropic drugs increased the risk for falls by a factor of 2.82 (OR, 95% CI (1.90-4.18)), when adjusting for gender, age, numbers of pre-existing diseases, and drugs, respectively. Discussion The association of psychotropic drug use with fall and syncope in combination with polymedication and older age leads to the suspicion that psychotropic drugs might be potentially harmful in specific risk populations such as older adults. It may lead us to thoroughly weigh the benefit against risk in a patient-oriented way, leading to an integrative personalized therapy approach.
Involved external institutions
Universitätsklinikum Aachen (UKA)
Germany (DE)
Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte (BfArM) / Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices
Germany (DE)
Klinikum Fürth
Germany (DE)
Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie
Germany (DE)
Universitätsklinikum Ulm
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte (BfArM) / Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices
Germany (DE)
Klinikum Fürth
Germany (DE)
Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie
Germany (DE)
Universitätsklinikum Ulm
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Stingl, J.C., Just, K.S., Schurig, M., Böhme, M., Steffens, M., Schwab, M.,... Dormann, H. (2020). Prevalence of Psychotropic Drugs in Cases of Severe Adverse Drug Reactions Leading to Unplanned Emergency Visits in General Hospitals. Pharmacopsychiatry, 53(3), 133-137. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1110-1010
MLA:
Stingl, Julia C., et al. "Prevalence of Psychotropic Drugs in Cases of Severe Adverse Drug Reactions Leading to Unplanned Emergency Visits in General Hospitals." Pharmacopsychiatry 53.3 (2020): 133-137.
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