Older dementia patients prone to adverse drug reactions

Adverse drug events (ADEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are highly prevalent in older inpatients with dementia, according to a systematic review. However, only one study documented ADEs and approaches to ADR assessment were inconsistent.

The authors performed a systematic search of observational studies in the databases of Embase, Medline, PsychINFO, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Scopus, and Informit. Articles published in English reporting on the prevalence of ADEs or ADRs in hospital patients aged ≥65 years with dementia were included in the analysis.

Two authors reviewed titles and abstracts, as well as all eligible full-text articles. Relevant information with regard to ADEs, ADRs, and dementia were obtained from each article.

Only five articles met the eligibility criteria. One study reported an 81.5-percent prevalence of ADEs, defined using the Naranjo algorithm. Four studies examined the prevalence of ADRs, which ranged from 12.7 percent to 24.0 percent, assessed using various methods.

One study defined ADRs according to the World Health Organization (WHO)-Uppsala Monitoring Centre criteria, two studies employed the WHO definition, and one study did not clearly define ADRs.

Of note, psychotropic, antihypertensive, and analgesic medications were the most frequently reported drug classes implicated in ADEs and ADRs.

“A greater understanding of ADEs and ADRs, as well as tailored assessment tools, will promote prevention of ADEs and ADRs in people with dementia,” the authors said.