Epidemiology and characteristics of repeat adverse drug reactions and associated clinical outcomes in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Behailu Terefe Tesfaye, Gregory M Peterson, Woldesellassie M Bezabhe, Olive M Schmid, Mohammed S Salahudeen

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review

In one paragraph

Synthesis in European geriatric medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Behailu Terefe TesfayeSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, UTAS Health, University of Tasmania, P.O Box 845, Hobart, TAS 7006, Australia. behailuterefe.tesfaye@utas.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4512-2111

Gregory M PetersonSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, UTAS Health, University of Tasmania, P.O Box 845, Hobart, TAS 7006, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6764-3882

Woldesellassie M BezabheSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, UTAS Health, University of Tasmania, P.O Box 845, Hobart, TAS 7006, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3028-6949

Olive M SchmidSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, UTAS Health, University of Tasmania, P.O Box 845, Hobart, TAS 7006, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0087-3683

Mohammed S SalahudeenSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, UTAS Health, University of Tasmania, P.O Box 845, Hobart, TAS 7006, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9131-7465

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo systematically review and synthesise evidence on the incidence, characteristics, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of repeat adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in older adults.

methodsA comprehensive search of four major databases was conducted. Studies reporting data on both index (initial) and repeat ADRs in populations with a mean or median age ≥ 60 years were included. A repeat ADR was defined as the occurrence of the same or a different ADR following an index ADR in the same individual. A meta-analysis estimated the pooled incidence rate (IR) of at least one repeat ADR-related hospitalisation. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251086319).

resultsNine studies following participants with an index ADR to capture repeat ADRs and/or related hospitalisations were included. Seven examined repeat ADR-related hospitalisations, reporting incidences from 8.7 to 23.1% over 1-5 years. In six of the seven studies (n = 30,284) with pre-specified follow-up, the IR of at least one repeat ADR-related hospitalisation ranged from 4.0 to 13.0 per 100 person-year, with a pooled IR of 7.0 per 100 person-year (95% CI 5.0-10.0; I

conclusionRepeat ADRs and related hospitalisations pose a non-trivial risk in older adults and often involve the same drugs. Future research should evaluate system-level strategies to reduce preventable repeat events.

Indexed as

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse ReactionsHospitalizationAgedHumansIncidenceRisk FactorsAdverse drug reactionDrug safetyElderlyOlder adultsRehospitalisationRepeat adverse drug reaction

Identifiers

PMID42105049

DOI10.1007/s41999-026-01501-2

PMCPMC13562334

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