Hospital side effects

Here are side effects and complications from medication use while in the hospital.

Hospitalized patients who had an adverse drug event in 2004*: 1.2 million

Percentage of adverse effects that occurred when the drug was properly administered: 90%

Percentage of adverse effects from being given the wrong drug or wrong dose: 8.6%

Additional hospital costs, on average, for a patient who has had an adverse drug event: $2,500

Three most common drugs involved in adverse drug events: corticosteroids, blood thinners and anti-cancer drugs

Average age of a patient who experienced an adverse drug event:

64

Shari Roan

* Most recent data available

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Adverse Drug Events in U.S. Hospitals, 2004.