[Adverse reactions to drugs in hospitalized medical patients (author's transl)]. / Arzneimittelnebenwirkungen bei Patienten einer Medizinischen Klinik

Prospective research showed that unwanted side-effects resulting from medical therapy were found in 20,6% of all patients hospitalized in our medical clinic during a period of one year. Part of these side-effects was considered a possible reason for admission to the hospital and a cause of complications during the clinical treatment. The side-effects were classified according to their severity, duration, symptomatology and pathogenesis. Furthermore, the frequency of side-effects was studied with regard to age, sex and groups of drugs. It was possible to predict about 80% of the side-effects by considering pharmacological properties and individual risk-factors. The careful integration of these criteria into the treatment plan and the observation of the course of the disease is the basis for calculating the probability of occurrence of side-effects.