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A study was initiated in February 1971 to identify rates of adverse drug reactions (ADR) and to investigate predisposing factors in a pediatric medicine hospitalized population. Denominator data on all patients included age, sex, race, diagnosis, hospital stay and drugs received. Numerator data consisted of the same data as above plus information on mechanism, probability, morbidity, onset and effect on hospital stay of adverse reactions. The main mechanism for the detection of ADR’s was the interview of physicians by the pharmacist for reasons for discontinued drugs, reduced dosages and prescribed antidotes. Prospective chart review and participation in physician rounds also contributed to ADR detection. All data were processed and stored in a hospital computer for periodic retrieval and analysis. Results indicated a significant ADR rate for pediatric medicine patients. Ten percent of 658 patients monitored over an eight-month period developed at least one reaction in the hospital. Patients admitted with reactions were twice as likely to develop another reaction in the hospital. Steroids, antibiotics and antineoplastics were the major classes of drugs contributing to adverse reactions. Patients receiving greater than the average number of drugs administered per patient (4.2) were more susceptible to reactions of a moderate to severe morbidity.
McKenzie et al. (Mon,) studied this question.