Iatrogenesis is a common and serious hazard of hospitalization associated with increased patient morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and nursing home placement, at significant cost to patients and health care organizations. The term comes from the Greek word iatros, or physician; iatrogenesis means harm brought forth by a healer or any unintended adverse patient outcome because of a health care intervention, not considered the natural course of the illness or injury.
Deeper dive
Iatrogenic complications are about twice as common and often more severe among older adults than among younger patients. These complications include adverse drug effects (eg, interactions), falls, hospital-acquired infections, pressure ulcers, delirium, and complications related to surgery. and a variety of geriatric syndromes such as falls, delirium, functional decline, pressure ulcers, according to the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing.
Hospitalized older adults are especially at risk for ‘cascade iatrogenesis’, the development of multiple complications initiated by a seemingly innocuous initial event The presence of multiple chronic conditions increases the possibility that the treatment of one problem may have a negative impact on another.
Efforts to help mitigate iatrogenesis include more case management coordination, using a geriatric interdisciplinary team of care providers for complex care situations, specific acute care units for elderly patients, (ACE) and ensuring individuals have prepared advance directives including designation of a health proxy.