Summary
To determine the pattern of and the risk factors for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in Hong Kong, a prospective study of acute admissions to 2 general medical wards at the Prince of Wales Hospital was undertaken. Of the 1701 admissions included in this study, 74 (4.4%) were attributed to ADRs.
Sulphonylureas, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and insulin accounted for 61% of cases. The most frequent ADRs were hypoglycaemia (43%) and gastrointestinal haemorrhage (29.7%). Both old age and impaired renal function appear to be important risk factors for ADRs. In such situations, careful dose adjustment, use of an alternative drug or total avoidance may be necessary. Particular attention should be given to oral hypoglycaemic drugs and NSAIDs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asplund K, Wilholm BE, Lithner F. Glibenclamide-associated hypoglycaemia: a report on 57 cases. Diabetologia 24: 412–417, 1983
Berger W, Caduff F, Paquel M, Rump A. Die relative Haufigkeit der schweren Sulfonlharnstoff-Hypoglykamie in den letzten 25 Jahren in der Schweiz. Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 116: 145–151, 1986
Bergman U, Wiholm BE. Drug-related problems causing admission to a medical clinic. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 20: 193–200, 1981
Caransos GJ, Stewart RB, Cluff LE. Drug-induced illness leading to hospitalisation. Journal of the American Medical Association 228: 713–717, 1974
Grymonpre RE, Mitenko PA, Sitar DS, Aoki FY, Montgomery PR. Drug-associated hospital admissions in older medical patients. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 36: 1092–1098, 1988
Hawkey CJ. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and peptic ulcers. British Medical Journal 300: 278–284, 1990
Holmberg L, Bottiger LE. The drug-consuming patient and his drugs. Acta Medica Scandinavica 213: 211–216, 1983
Hurwitz N. Admissions to hospital due to drugs. British Medical Journal 1: 539–540, 1969
Karcn FE, Lasagna L. Adverse drug reactions: a critical review. Journal of the American Medical Association 234: 1236–1241, 1975
Lam CLK, Tse MHW, Munro C. A study of the practice of self-medication in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Practitioner 11: 272–286, 1989a
Lam CLK, Tse MHW, Munro C. A survey on the use of self-medication over a period of two weeks. Hong Kong Practitioner 11: 371–375, 1989b
Levy M, Kewitz H, Altwein W, Hillebrand J, Eliakim M. Hospital admissions due to adverse drug reactions: a comparative study from Jerusalem and Berlin. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 17: 25–31, 1980
Miller RR. Hospital admissions due to adverse drug reactions: a report from the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program. Archives of Internal Medicine 134: 219–223, 1974
Nananda C, Fanale JE, Kronholm P. The role of medication non-compliance and adverse drug reactions in hospitalizations of the elderly. Archives of Internal Medicine 150: 841–845, 1990
Selzer HS. Drug-induced hypoglycaemia: a review based on 473 cases. Diabetes 21: 955–966, 1972
Smith JW, Seidl LG, Cluff LE. Studies on the epidemiology of adverse drug reactions. Annals of Internal Medicine 65: 629–640, 1966
Woo J, Swaminathan R, Cockram C, Pang CP, Mak YT, et al. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and an assessment of methods of detection among a community of elderly Chinese in Hong Kong. Diabetologia 30: 863–868, 1987
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chan, T.Y.K., Chan, J.C.N., Tomlinson, B. et al. Adverse Reactions to Drugs as a Cause of Admissions to a General Teaching Hospital in Hong Kong. Drug-Safety 7, 235–240 (1992). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-199207030-00008
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-199207030-00008