Incidência de internações por eventos adversos a medicamentos em Minas Gerais

Abstract

Aims: To estimate the rate of hospital admissions due to adverse drug events under the Unified Public Health System in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, according to demographic variables, length of stay, medical specialty, and cause of hospitalization. Methods: Cross-sectional study with secondary data on hospital admissions paid for under the Unified Health System in Minas Gerais between 2012 and 2014. The incidence of hospitalizations for adverse drug events was calculated and expressed per 1,000 admissions. The total number of admissions and of hospitalizations for adverse drug events was described according to the patient’s gender and age, length of hospital stay, and the medical specialty. The frequencies of the different categories of the variables of interest were compared using the chi-square test and a 5% significance level. Results: The incidence of hospitalizations for adverse drug events was 25.9 per 1,000 admissions paid for by the Unified Public Health System. Men had a higher rate of hospitalizations for adverse drug events than women (2.7% vs. 2.4%). In terms of age, the highest rate of hospitalizations for adverse drug events was observed among individuals aged 60 years or older (3.4%) and the lowest rate was among children aged up to 9 years (0.6%). A higher rate of hospitalizations for adverse drug events was observed when the length of stay was 15 days or longer (7.6%) and in patients admitted from the psychiatric service (8.3%). Conclusions: Adverse drug events were an important cause of hospitalization under the Unified Public Health System in Minas Gerais between 2012 and 2014. Hospitalization for adverse drug events was associated with being male, being 60 years or older, having a longer hospital stay, and being admitted from the psychiatric service. Actions that promote pharmacovigilance in health institutions are necessary for the prevention of adverse drug events.