Adverse effects of drugs in patients with heart disease lead to hospital care

Polypharmacy in patients with cardiovascular disease leads to an increased risk of developing adverse effects. At the Department of Internal Medicine at Stockholm Söder Hospital we studied computerized records and discovered that 14% of those hospitalized patients who were on drug treatment for cardiovascular diseases were admitted due to problems or symptoms possibly caused by their drugs. Interactions were less common; the symptoms which warranted hospitalization were more often caused by additive pharmacological effects. Obviously, adverse effects of drugs decrease quality of life, cause unnecessary suffering and treatment, and are expensive for the health care system. Screening of computerized records helps us detect adverse effects, and facilitates prevention.