TABLE 2.
Reasons for potentially preventable medication-related readmissions and the associated medication a .
| Clinical presentation at readmission | Preventable readmissions (n = 72, 100%) | Associated medications (no. Of readmissions) |
|---|---|---|
| Circulatory | ||
| Cardiovascular symptoms (e.g., heart failure, dysrhythmias, hyper- or hypotension) | 23 (32%) | Diuretics (10), calcium antagonists (4), beta-blockers (3), medication affecting RAAS (3), cardiac glycosides (2), organic nitrates (1), theophylline (1), alpha-blocker (1) |
| Endocrine system | ||
| Hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia | 11 (15%) | Insulin (7), oral antidiabetics (3), corticosteroids (1) |
| Gastrointestinal system | ||
| Hepatic encephalopathy/liver failure | 10 (14%) | Laxatives (9), acetaminophen (1) |
| Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, constipation) | 4 (6%) | Laxatives (1), loperamide (1), oral antidiabetics (1), antiemetics (1) |
| Blood | ||
| Coagulation disorders (e.g., bleeding, anemia, embolism) | 7 (10%) | Anticoagulants (7) |
| Respiratory system | ||
| Respiratory symptoms (e.g., dyspnoea) | 6 (8%) | Respiratory medication (5), opioids (1) |
| Central nervous system | ||
| Epileptic seizure, pain, dysregulation of Parkinson's disease | 4 (6%) | Opioids (1), antiepileptics (2), anti-Parkinson medication (1) |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Electrolyte disturbance (e.g., hyper- or hypokalemia) | 4 (6%) | Mineral supplements (2), medication for treatment of hyperkalemia (1), diuretics (1) |
| Immune system | ||
| Infection | 2 (3%) | Antibiotics (2) |
| Other | ||
| Headache | 1 (1%) | Infliximab (1) |
a
More than one medicine per readmission is possible. RAAS, renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system.