PREVENTABLE HAZARDS OF ACUTE HOSPITALIZATION

Numerous hazards of hospitalization are encountered by elderly surgical patients.^[50] Iatrogenic complications of importance to the anesthesiologist include adverse drug events, dehydration, delirium, and functional decline. Adverse drug events have a reported prevalence of 14.6% in hospitalized patients 70 years and older and are associated with both the number of new inpatient medications and admission cognitive status. Patients experiencing an adverse drug event often incur a longer length of stay and a functional decline. ^[168]