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Oct. 17, 2006 -- Experts from the CDC and FDA estimate that every year, more than 700,000 people visit U.S. emergency departments because of side effects, accidental overdoses, and other adverse drug events.
Those patients are particularly likely to be 65 years old or older, note the researchers, who included the CDC's Daniel Budnitz, MD, MPH.
In fact, nearly as many people aged 65 and older visit emergency departments for drug events as for automobile accidents, Budnitz's team notes.
Their study appears in The Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study's message: America may need to do more to help people avoid adverse drug events. If you're taking any drugs, you may want to check that you're doing so correctly.
About the Study
Budnitz and colleagues tracked adverse drug events reported at 63 U.S. hospitals from 2004 through 2005.
"Drugs" included prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products.
"Adverse drug events" included allergic reactions, undesirable side effects at recommended doses, accidental overdoses, or "secondary effects," such as falls or choking.
The data don't cover drug-related deaths, suicide attempts, drug abuse, symptoms of drug withdrawal, or drug failures.
Thousands of Cases
During the study period, the hospitals reported nearly 21,300 emergency department visits due to adverse drug events.
That equals 2.4 cases per 1,000 people, or more than 701,000 patients per year nationwide, Budnitz and colleagues estimate.
Most patients were treated and released from emergency departments. But about 117,000 patients per year require hospitalization for adverse drug events, the researchers estimate.