Adverse Drug Reactions in Patients Hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital in Southern Brazil

To identify and characterize suspected adverse drug reactions in adult patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, we conducted a retrospective study from January to June 2007 in a university hospital. Through intensive monitoring of medical records we collected data related to the patient, hospitalization, suspected adverse drug reactions, and prescription drugs. The adverse drug reactions were classified according to their causation and predictability. A total 270 patients were monitored, 20 of whom (7.4%) showed had at least one suspected adverse drug reaction. The gender, number of diagnoses, mean number of medications prescribed per day, and length of hospital stay were associated with the development of adverse drug reaction. Suspected adverse drug reactions were classified as having predominantly possible causality and predictability of type A. Most suspected adverse drug reactions could be avoided by the use of doses as low as possible, respecting the patient's pathophysiological status.