Table 3.
Distribution of drug categories responsible for first-time and repeat adverse drug reaction (ADR) hospital episodes in people aged ≥60 years, WA 1980–2003
| ICD code | Drug category | First-time No | ADRs % | Repeat No | ADRs % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E942/Y52 | Agents primarily affecting cardiovascular system | 6 693 | 17.9 | 1 590 | 15.6 |
| E935/Y45 | Analgesics/antipyretics/anti-inflammatory drugs* | 6 481 | 17.4 | 1 502 | 14.7 |
| E932/Y42 | Hormones (including synthetic, antagonists) | 2 705 | 7.3 | 1 358 | 13.3 |
| E933/Y43 | Primarily systemic agents† | 2 744 | 7.4 | 1 158 | 11.3 |
| E934/Y44 | Agents primarily affecting blood constituents | 3 474 | 9.3 | 977 | 9.6 |
| E944/Y54 | Agents affecting water/mineral balance/uric acid | 2 841 | 7.6 | 746 | 7.3 |
| E930/Y40 | Systemic antibiotics | 3 475 | 9.3 | 726 | 7.1 |
| E939/Y49 | Psychotropic drugs | 2 166 | 5.8 | 593 | 5.8 |
| E936/Y46 | Antiepileptics/anti-Parkinsonism drugs | 1 362 | 3.7 | 403 | 3.9 |
| E947/Y57 | Other and unspecified medicaments | 1 213 | 3.3 | 306 | 3.0 |
| E941/Y51 | Drugs affecting autonomic nervous system | 1 239 | 3.3 | 303 | 3.0 |
| E931/Y41 | Other systemic anti-infectives/antiparasitics | 528 | 1.4 | 133 | 1.3 |
| E946/Y56 | Topical agents affecting skin, ENT, dental | 631 | 1.7 | 119 | 1.2 |
| E945/Y55 | Agents affecting muscle/respiratory system | 388 | 1.0 | 85 | 0.8 |
| E943/Y53 | Agents primarily affecting gastrointestinal system | 329 | 0.9 | 77 | 0.8 |
| E937/Y47 | Sedatives, hypnotics, antianxiety drugs | 342 | 0.9 | 74 | 0.7 |
| E938/Y48 | Anaesthetics, therapeutic gases | 555 | 1.5 | 37 | 0.4 |
| E949/Y59 | Other vaccines/biologicals | 77 | 0.2 | 15 | 0.1 |
| E940/Y50 | CNS stimulants | 31 | 0.1 | 5 | <0.1 |
| E948/Y58 | Bacterial vaccines | 22 | 0.1 | 5 | <0.1 |
| Total | 37 296 | 100.0 | 10 212 | 100.0 |
*
Including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
†
Including inter alia, antineoplastics and immunosuppressives.