Prescription drug deaths amongst elderly up three quarters since 1997 - Burstow

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 16th Oct 2005

The number of deaths amongst older people as a result of serious reactions to their medication has risen by three quarters under the Labour, according to figures uncovered by Commons Health Select Committee member Paul Burstow MP.

Parliamentary Answers to Paul Burstow MP reveal that the number of over 65 year olds who have died of suspected adverse drug reactions has risen constantly since 1997, from 194 to 337 deaths last year.

And reports of all adverse reactions to medicines amongst over 65s have increased by a fifth since 1997.

Health Select Committee member Paul Burstow MP commented:

"The number of older people who have died simply from taking their own medication is extremely alarming. But these figures are just the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds of bad reactions to medicines go unreported by health care professionals every year.

"These figures emphasise the need for regular medication checks, especially amongst the elderly who are often prescribed a cocktail of different drugs for multiple health problems.

"Ministers must take urgent action to ensure older people are getting regular medication reviews and reverse the massive under-reporting of adverse drug reactions across the health service."

ENDS. (Notes to editors follow.)

Notes to editors

1. Figures taken from Parliamentary Answers to Paul Burstow MP, ref 11357 and 6658.

Number of adverse drug reaction by age category

Age 1997 2001 2003 2004 % increase

50-64 3838 5145 3687 4017 5%

65-74 2439 2835 2543 2727 12%

75+ 1765 2248 2525 2390 35%

65+ 4204 5083 5068 5117 22%

All categories 8042 10228 8755 9134 14%

Number of fatal suspected adverse drug reactions by age category

Age 1997 2001 2003 2004 % increase

50-64 84 137 139 180 114%

65-74 88 104 118 143 63%

75+ 106 151 170 194 83%

65+ 194 255 288 337 74%

All categories 278 392 427 517 86%

2. A study published in the British Medical Journal in July 2004 found that patients admitted to hospital with adverse drug reactions were significantly older other hospitals patients. The study also projected:

• adverse drug reactions cost the NHS £466 million a year in unnecessary hospital admissions, and

• at any one time the equivalent of seven 800 bed hospitals may be occupied by patients admitted with adverse drug reactions.