Adverse drug events in hospitalized elderly.

Background: The study objectives were (a) to describe the occurrence, types, and preventability of adverse drug events (ADEs) in hospitalized patients 70 years of age and older; (b) to examine the association between potential risk factors and ADEs; and (c) to examine the relationship of an ADE occurrence and hospital length of stay (LOS) and functional decline.

Method: Consecutive general medical admissions (n = 157) of community-dwelling persons were prospectively monitored daily for ADE occurrence. Admission assessment included demographic factors, cognition, preadmission medication use, and functional status.

Depression, cognitive impairment, and understanding of medication directions in hospitalized elderly patients.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were 1) to assess understanding of medication directions of drug therapy in a group of hospitalized elderly who were not receiving assistance with medication administration; and 2) to determine whether depression, cognitive impairment, age, and other characteristics are associated with patient understanding of medication directions.

Methods: The sample consisted of 117 hospitalized elderly patients aged 70 years and older who were taking two or more medications prior to hospitalization and reported medication self-administration. Data collection included demographic characteristics, mood, cognition, and pre-admission medication use and knowledge.

Polymyalgia rheumatica.

The epidemiology, relationship to giant cell arteritis (GCA), pathogenesis, pathology, clinical and laboratory features, differential diagnosis, and treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are reviewed. Patients with PMR are usually over 50 years of age, white, and female. There is an association between GCA and PMR that has important implications because of the risk of blindness and other severe vascular complications in patients with GCA.

Hepatic and renal dysfunction following nafcillin administration.

Objective: To review four cases of combined hepatic and renal toxicity that may be associated with the administration of nafcillin in adults. This type of adverse event with the use of nafcillin has not been previously documented in the literature.

Data Sources: References from pertinent articles are identified throughout the text.