Comment on: "Adverse Drug Reaction-Related Hospitalizations in Elderly Australians: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study in Two Tasmanian Hospitals" (Letter)

Abstract

We read with interest the recent study by Nair et al. [1] about adverse drug reaction (ADR)-related hospitalizations in elderly Australians.

In this study, which used convenience sampling, all admissions of elderly people to two hospitals in Tasmania, Australia, were evaluated to determine the rate of admissions that might possibly be related to ADRs. The article focused on a major issue in an important population, as drug utilization among the elderly is increasing in Australia [2]. The strengths of the study, as highlighted by the authors, included its prospective design, follow-up of patients through to discharge, and data collection using both patient interviews and medical records.