Algorithms used in adverse drug event reports: a comparative study

OBJECTIVE: To determine if and how the Kramer and Karch algorithms differ in assigning a probability that a published case was actually an adverse drug event (ADE), and to determine if these algorithms could be used to assess published ADEs. DESIGN: Open, single-rater comparison of Karch and Kramer algorithms in 200 published ADE reports. MAIN RESULTS: The algorithms were not significantly different regarding the proportion of cases deemed definite (p = 0.5204) or probable (p = 0.2972) ADEs. The Kramer instrument was more likely to assign a possible risk of ADE (p = 0.0001), while the Karch instrument was more likely to assign a risk of unlikely (p = 0.0001). The algorithms agreed in 41% of the cases and could be used to assess published ADEs. CONCLUSIONS: The Karch and Kramer algorithms may disagree in how they assign a probability of risk to a potential ADE. This may be due to how algorithms are applied, as well as to structural differences.

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				S. D. Ross Drug-Related Adverse Events: A Readers' Guide to Assessing Literature Reviews and Meta-analyses Arch Intern Med, April 23, 2001; 161(8): 1041 - 1046. [Full Text] [PDF]