Methods: A cross-sectional study with a questionnaire for adverse drug reactions based on European Network for Drug Allergy (ENDA) was performed. Hospitalized patients older than 12 years of age were included.
Results: A total of 150 patients were studied, 84 being female. Their ages ranged from 14 to 94 years, with an average of 55 years. The average number of medications per patient was 7.5. Fifteen ADRs were reported during hospitalization (10%). Five ADRs were classified as hypersensitivity, including two IgE-mediated reactions that were observed in two patients hospitalized for desensitization (anti-rabies vaccine and insulin). The procedure had to be suspended in these patients. Three non-IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions occurred: rash after non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intake, coughing and itching with angiotensin converter enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and rash with iodinated contrast. The remaining patients (10) had common side effect reactions to several drugs. Twenty-eight patients have had prior hypersensitivity reaction, being five IgE-mediated (two with beta-lactam antibiotics, one with non beta-lactam antibiotic, one with insulin and the last one with rabies vaccine) and 23 non-IgE-mediated (8 with NSAIDs, 5 with ACEI, 3 with beta-lactam antibiotics, 3 with non beta-lactam antibiotics, 2 with iodinated contrast and 2 with other drugs). Most hypersensitivity reactions were cutaneous. In three patients, previous hypersensitivity reactions were not mentioned at the time of hospitalization.
Conclusions: The average number of medications administered per patient during hospitalization is high. Adverse drug reactions are very common and have great clinical relevance. Ten percent of patients presented ADRs during hospitalization and one third of them had hypersensitivity reactions, what is in accordance with literature.