Investigation into the reasons for preventable drug related admissions to a medical admissions unit: observational study.

OBJECTIVE To describe the drugs and types of medicine management problems most frequently associated with preventable drug related admissions to an acute medical admissions unit. DESIGN Observation study. SETTING Medical admissions unit in a teaching hospital in Nottingham, UK. PARTICIPANTS 4093 patients seen by pharmacists on the medical admissions unit between 1 January and 30 June 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Proportion of admissions that were drug related and preventable, classification of the underlying causes of preventable drug related admissions, and identification of drugs most commonly associated with preventable drug related admissions. RESULTS Of the admissions seen by pharmacists, 265 (6.5%) were judged to be drug related and 178 (67%) of these were judged to be preventable. Preventable admissions were mainly due to problems with prescribing (63 cases (35%)), monitoring (46 cases (26%)), and adherence to medication (53 cases (30%)). The drugs most commonly implicated were NSAIDs, antiplatelets, antiepileptics, hypoglycaemics, diuretics, inhaled corticosteroids, cardiac glycosides, and beta-blockers. CONCLUSIONS Potentially preventable drug related morbidity was associated with 4.3% of admissions to a medical admissions unit. In 91% of cases these admissions were related to problems with either prescribing, monitoring, or adherence.