Drug utilization and adverse drug reactions in medical patients: comparison of two periods, 1969--72 and 1973--76.

A study of drug usage and adverse drug reactions was carried out on 2,771 hospitalized medical patients during 1969--76. Comparison of data between 1969--72 and 1973--76 shows an 11% reduction in the average number of drugs per patient, and a 59% decrease in the incidence of adverse effects, calculated as percent of all exposures. The number of patients affected by adverse reactions during the second period fell by 61%. These data seem to indicate that there was considerable improvement in habits of drug usage in the monitored ward.