ADE caused: | VA | Non-VA* | Example: discrepancy (ADE) |
No symptoms (%) | 42 | 48 | VA: phenytoin dosage increase (supratherapeutic phenytoin level) |
Non-VA: clonidine omitted (hypertension) | |||
Symptoms only (%) | 54 | 50 | VA: fentanyl transdermal omitted (pain) |
Non-VA: carbamazepine dosage decrease (seizure and lethargy) | |||
Prolonged or additional hospital stay (%) | 4 | 2 | VA: nitroglycerin transdermal omitted (cardiac ischaemia, hospital readmission) |
Non-VA: colchicine omitted (gout flare, prolonged hospital stay) | |||
Permanent harm or death (%) | 0 | 0 | None |
↵* p≥0.05 for all comparisons with VA group, by χ2 test.
ADE, adverse drug events; VA, US Department of Veterans Affairs.