Adverse drug reactions in older adults: a retrospective study from pharmacovigilance

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the adverse drug reactions notified in older adults to pharmacovigilance and to identify the incriminated drugs in their genesis.

Methods: A retrospective study including 688 notifications of adverse drug reactions to pharmacovigilance in patients aged of 65 years and more, over a period of 16 years and where the responsibility of one drug or more was incriminated in the genesis of the adverse reaction. Imputation was established according to the French method and seriousness according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

Results: Sex-ratio W/M was 1.2. Average age was 71.3 years. The average number of administered drugs was 3.64 and polymedication was noted in 30% of cases. Adverse drug reactions were essentially cutaneous and systemic. Incriminated drugs were mainly antibiotics and cardio-vascular drugs. Serious adverse drug reactions were noted in 26%.

Conclusion: In older adults, adverse drug reactions' notification to pharmacovigilance is necessary and allows assessing large scale epidemiologic studies to identify iatrogenic risk factors.