Prevalence and preventability of adverse drug events in a teaching hospital: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

We determined the prevalence of adverse drug events [‎ADEs]‎ in a general teaching hospital in Rabat, Morocco. We performed a 5-day cross-sectional study of hospital departments recruiting inpatients and outpatients. Among the 1390 patients surveyed, 59 [‎4.2%]‎ experienced at least 1 ADE and for 20 patients [‎1.4%]‎ the ADE was responsible for hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization. The ADE was classified as serious in 28 patients. Of the total of 76 ADEs, 10 [‎13.2%]‎ were categorized as preventable; 6 of these occurred during the treatment monitoring phase. Patients who experienced an ADE were more likely to be women, to be younger [‎< 30 years]‎ and to be hospitalized in medical departments