Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Majority of Patients Hospitalized for Medication Injuries are Seniors

New data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) shows that more than half (53 percent) of patients hospitalized following bad reactions to medication are seniors over the age of 65.

The reactions were caused either by taking or being given the wrong drug or dosage, which can be caused by everything from an overdose to a pharmacy error. The top five categories of drugs that caused injury or illness are:
  • Corticosteroids
  • Painkillers
  • Blood thinners
  • Drugs used to treat cancer and immune system disorders
  • Heart and blood pressure medicine
To learn more, click here.

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