Iatrogenic pathology in elderly, inducing hospitalisation. A one year retrospective study in an internal medicine department.

Iatrogenic pathology is mainly seen in the elderly. In a one year retrospective study, we showed that drug toxicity was responsible for 87 cases requiring hospitalisation in patients aged 65 years and above (7.7% of hospital admission for patients over 65 years). The major manifestations were: 21 cases of sera electrolyte disturbance, 19 concerning gastro-intestinal tract and liver, 16 cardiological disorders, 13 neurological complications, ten involving the endocrine system, six hematological complications. The most common drugs involved were: antihypertensive agents (36%), of which 20.5% were diuretics, psychotherapeutic drugs (24.8%), anti-inflammatory drugs (17.8%). The average cost per patient was calculated to 20,602 FF per patient. Impossibility for direct return to the original dwelling place was another complication in 29% of hospitalisations related to iatrogenic disorders. The high number of drugs taken daily increases the risk of drug interactions which was responsible for iatrogenic accidents in 12.6% of the patients of this study.