Harm types by system with examples, N = 1762
| System, n (%) | Harm, n (% of system) | Examples | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General 186 (10.6) | Generally unwell | 63 (33.9) | 75-year-old female felt dizzy and sleepy after taking donepezil. Mild severity, not preventable. |
| Fatigue | 47 (25.3) | ||
| Weight change | 24 (12.9) | 10-year-old male experienced anorexia and poor weight gain on methylphenidate. Mild severity, potentially preventable. | |
| Exacerbation of existing condition | 20 (10.8) | ||
| Other | 32 (17.2) | ||
| Gastroenterology 387 (22.0) | Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea | 213 (55.0) | 2-year-old female developed diarrhoea after takingamoxicillin. Mild severity, not preventable. |
| Constipation | 53 (13.7) | 81-year-old male developed severe constipation from codeine requiring hospitalisation. Severe harm, potentially preventable. | |
| Dyspepsia | 48 (12.4) | ||
| Bleeding | 28 (7.2) | ||
| Pain | 12 (3.1) | ||
| Other | 33 (8.5) | ||
| Cardiology 217 (12.3) | Hypotension | 136 (62.7) | 93-year-old male experienced recurrent falls secondary to hypotension while taking cilazapril, metoprolol, frusemide, and isosorbide mononitrate. Moderate severity, potentially preventable. |
| Heart failure | 39 (18.0) | ||
| Arrhythmias | 27 (12.4) | ||
| Other | 15 (6.9) | ||
| Neurology 192 (10.9) | Cognition | 61 (31.8) | 83-year-old female experinced a haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident after commencing aspirin and clopidogrel, resulting in death. Not preventable. |
| Sensory | 41 (21.4) | ||
| Headache | 35 (18.2) | ||
| Balance | 32 (16.7) | 79-year-old male developed postural hypotension while taking metoprolol and cilazapril. Fell and developed a subdural haemaotoma, died during hospitalisation. Potentially preventable. | |
| Movement | 12 (6.3) | ||
| Intracerebral event | 11 (5.7) | ||
| Renal 161 (9.1) | Renal | 139 (86.3) | 69-year-old male with severe chronic renal failure died within 2 weeks of an increased dose of metformin and allopurinol. Death, potentially preventable. |
| Urology | 22 (13.7) | ||
| Musculoskeletal 107 (6.1) | Pain | 75 (70.1) | 81-year-old male experienced repeated episodes of gout while taking bendrofluazide. Mild severity, potentially preventable. |
| Gout | 18 (16.8) | ||
| Bones and joints | 14 (13.1) | ||
| Skin 104 (5.9) | Rash | 50 (48.1) | 8-year-old female developed scalp irritation and discomfort after using malathion shampoo. Mild severity, not preventable. |
| Itch | 23 (22.1) | ||
| Other | 31 (29.8) | ||
| Mental health 101 (5.7) | Mood/affect | 66 (65.3) | 53-year-old male experienced vivid dreams and sleep disturbance while taking varenicline. Mild severity, not preventable. |
| Sleep disturbance | 26 (25.7) | ||
| Addiction | 9 (8.9) | 43-year-old female described as abusing prescribed codeine. Moderate severity, potentially preventable. | |
| Haematology 81 (4.6) | Haematology | 77 (95.1) | 49-year-old male developed thrombocytopenia while taking carbamazebine. Mild severity, not preventable. |
| Immunology | 4 (4.9) | ||
| Endocrine 71 (4.0) | Diabetes related | 48 (67.6) | 71-year-old female taking glipizide and insulin experienced recurrent hypoglycaemic episodes. Moderate severity, potentially preventable. |
| Sweating and flushing | 10 (14.1) | ||
| Other | 13 (18.3) | ||
| Reproductive health 60 (3.4) | Bleeding | 34 (56.7) | 51-year-old female on dabigatran experienced menorrhagia requiring a blood transfusion. Moderate severity, not preventable. |
| Infection/discharge | 18 (30.0) | ||
| Pregnancy | 8 (13.3) | ||
| Respiratory 57 (3.2) | Cough and wheeze | 57 (100) | 71-year-old male developed acute pneumonitis while taking amiodarone. Severe harm, not preventable. |
| Economic 38 (2.2) | Extra treatment required | 38 (100) | 32-year-old male required hospitalisation and time off work for a gastrointestinal bleed while taking diclofenac and no proton-pump inhibitor. Moderate severity, potentially preventable. |