Table 4.

Classification of preventable adverse events that we propose to use in this study*

State	Proportion	Utility	Mean duration, L (years)	Cost, 2009 (€)	Comments	Example
Death	0.078	0	3	3,831	Duration here is expected mean survival without the event, as estimated as weighted average from Zegers et al. [29]	Vincristine administered by intrathecal route.
Permanent disability	0.047	To be determined	6	6,649	Costs exclude long-term care. No data on mean duration, but a given adverse event is more likely to be fatal in an older person, so mean survival assumed to be a little longer than life years lost in those who died.	Haemorrhagic stroke in patient prescribed warfarin and macrolide antibiotics.
Moderate disability	0.617	To be determined	0.2	5,973	Duration ≤6 months in 70% of cases (Baker et al. [30])	Pulmonary embolism in large patient given standard (inadequate) dose of heparin.
Minimal effect	0.257	To be determined	0.05	2,979		Transient urticarial rash in known allergic patient given penicillin.

*Based on Hoonhout et al. [28]