Adverse drug reactions in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in France: a national multicentre cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

To assess the prevalence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurring in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other dementia in France.

METHODS

A cross-sectional multicentre study was conducted by the French network of the 31 regional pharmacovigilance centres on a given day. The subjects were selected by random draw to be a representative sample of French patients with dementia: consultations of dementia clinics, nursing-homes, acute and long care geriatric units, rehabilitation care geriatric units. The staff of each medical structure together with that of the pharmacovigilance centre defined a day for including the patients. Socio-demographic data, history, ADR and drugs given were registered.

RESULTS

There were 1332 subjects included, 51.1% living at home, 48.8% in institutions, aged 82.0 ± 8.0 years (46-108); 61.3% suffered from AD. Mean number of drugs was 6.3 ± 3.1. Anti-dementia drugs were given to 66.4% subjects. ADR prevalence was 5.0% (95% CI: 3.9-6.2) without a significant difference between at home and institutionalized patients. ADR consisted of gastro-intestinal (23.2%), central nervous system (17.4%) and psychiatric disorders (8.7%). Of the ADR, 31.9% were serious, and 47.8% preventable. The drugs most often involved were anti-dementia (28.9%), cardio-vascular (28.9%) and psychotropic drugs (26.4%, anxiolytics, hypnotics, antidepressants, neuroleptics).

CONCLUSION

This national scale study showed that iatrogenesis in patients with AD and related dementia can at times be serious and preventable. Therefore, special attention is required when prescribing psychotropic and anti-dementia drugs, as they are frequently used and induce half of the ADR in this population.

[Medication errors in anaesthesia: a review of reports from the French Health Products Agency]

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to assess medication errors and risks of medication errors during anaesthetic practice reported at the French Health Products Agency (Afssaps) from 2005 to 2010.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive study.

METHODS

The data are issued of "Medication errors and risks of medication errors" file which group together all cases received by the Medication Errors Unit at Afssaps since 2005.

RESULTS

A total of 263 cases were observed by the Medication Errors Unit at Afssaps. Among them, 159 cases were risks of medication errors, 76 cases were patent medication errors and 28 were near misses. Among the 76 cases of patent medication errors, out of which 47 cases were appreciated with adverse reaction and 35 cases were classified as serious. Adverse events were classified as haemodynamic, respiratory and neurologic events. Most of the errors occurred during administration (65%), followed by dispensing errors (14%), storage errors (15%) or preparation errors (4%). Sixty-nine percent of cases of wrong drug errors were found, followed by 26% of errors of strength, 3% of incorrect route of administration errors and 2% of patient errors. In most of cases, similarity in packaging was underlined (n=83).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the majority of medication errors and risks of medication errors during anaesthetic practice, underline similarity in packaging. Results highlighted the importance of vial labeling presentation (readability and mention understanding) in anaesthetic practice.