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The progressive aging and comorbidities of the population have led to an increase in the number of patients with polypharmacy attended to in the emergency department. Drug-related problems (DRPs) have become a major cause of admission to these units, as well as a high rate of short-term readmissions. Anticoagulants, antibiotics, antidiabetics, and opioids have been shown to be the most common drugs involved in this issue. Inappropriate polypharmacy has been pointed out as one of the major causes of these emergency visits. Different ways of conducting chronic medication reviews at discharge, primary care coordination, and phone contact with patients at discharge have been shown to reduce new hospitalizations and new emergency room visits due to DRPs, and they are key elements for improving the quality of care provided by emergency services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a secondary prevention programme in patients admitted to the emergency department due to drug-related problems (DRPs). Methods A decision model compared costs and outcomes of patients with DRPs admitted to the emergency department. Model variables and costs, along with their distributions, were obtained from the trial results and literature. The study was performed from the perspective of the National Health System including only direct costs. Key findings The implementation of a secondary prevention programme for DRPs reduces costs associated with emergency department revisits, with an annual net benefit of €87 639. Considering a mortality rate attributable to readmission of 4.7%, the cost per life-years gained (LYG) with the implementation of this programme was €2205. In the short term, the reduction in the number of revisits following the programme implementation was the variable that most affected the model, with the benefit threshold value corresponding to a relative reduction of 12.4% of the number of revisits of patients with DRPs to obtain benefits. Conclusions Implementing a secondary prevention programme is cost-effective for patients with DRPs admitted to the emergency department. Implementation costs will be exceeded by reducing revisits to the emergency department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]