BMJ  2006;332 (20 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7551.0

Ethnicity can affect risk of adverse drug reactions

Patients from different ethnic groups have different risks for adverse reactions to cardiovascular drugs. McDowell and colleagues (p 1177) carried out a meta-analysis of 24 studies containing information on adverse reactions to cardiovascular drugs in at least two different ethnic groups. Among other differences, they found that black patients had a relative risk of angio-oedema due to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors of 3.0 compared with non-black patients, and a relative risk of intracranial haemorrhage due to thrombolytic drugs of 1.5. Given these results, studies investigating drug treatment should report racial and ethnic classification more fully.

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