Complications and side effects: a problem in general practice?

On basis of secondary analysis of data obtained from the 'Dutch National Survey of Morbidity and Intervention in General Practice', we tried to gain insight into the nature and extent of iatrogenic illnesses in general practice. In this registration project 386,000 contacts of patients with 161 GP's have been recorded, using the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC). We confined ourselves to 'side effects of medication' and 'complications of medical treatment'. It appears that in two percent of all contacts the GP has made one of these two diagnoses, or has considered these. On average, the patients concerned suffered twice more often serious invalidating or danger of life.Herewith these two groups of iatrogenic harm constitute an important problem in general practice.