Effets indésirables médicamenteux chez des sujets âgés hospitalisés dans une unité spécialisée dans la prise en charge des patients atteints de syndrome démentiel

In dementia syndromes, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are often non-specific (e.g. behavioural disorders) and can lead to inappropriate prescribing, resulting in iatrogenic effects. Only a few studies on ADRs have been conducted in this population. We therefore set up a prospective descriptive study in an acute care unit specialised in the management of demented subjects, in order to describe ADRs according to the severity and suspected drug. From a total of 293 patients (82 ± 8 y), 70 had reported at least one ADR; half of these ADRs were serious. The most frequent ADRs were neurological (16%), psychiatric (15%), and nephrological (11%). The drugs most often suspected, regardless of the severity of ADRs, were those of the central nervous system.