Drug-associated admissions to a district hospital in Saudi Arabia

Background: The modernization and expansion of the health system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has led to the wide availability of drugs and with it a potential for their misuse. Aim: To study drug-associated admission to a district hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with regard to pattern, demographic characteristics of patients and outcome. Patients and Methods: A prospective study between 1992 and 1994 of drug-related admissions to the medical wards of a referral district hospital in Abha, southern Saudi Arabia. Results: One hundred and six patients were studied, 50 with drug overdose (OD, group A) and 56 with other adverse drug reactions (group B). Those with OD were younger and predominantly female. Analgesics, especially mefenamic acid and psychotropic drugs, were the most common causes of OD. Family disputes in females and psychiatric illnesses in males were the main risk factors for overdose. In group B, the most common adverse drug reactions were upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatic injury caused by NSAIDs. The overall mortality was 3.8%. Conclusions: Although drug-related problems constitute a minor problem in Saudi Arabia, there is a potential for their increase in the future. Overall mortality was higher than in other countries. Doctors should be alerted and hospitals should be ready to deal with this problem in Saudi Arabia, from both a medical and social point of view.