Purpose: To determine the type, frequency, and factors associated with medication preparation and administration errors in adult intensive care units (ICUs) and neonatal ICUs (NICUs)/ pediatric ICUs (PICUs). Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective direct observation study in an adult ICU and NICU/PICU in a tertiary university hospital. Between June 2012 and June 2013, a clinical pharmacist and medical student observed the nursing care staff on weekdays during the preparation and administration of intravenous drugs. We analyzed the frequency and type of preparation and administration errors and factors associated with errors. Results: Six hundred and three preparations in the adult ICU and 281 in the NICU/PICU were observed. Three hundred and eighty-five errors occurred in the adult ICU and 38 in the NICU/ PICU. There were 5,040 and 2,514 error opportunities, with overall error rates of 7.6% and 1.5%, respectively. The total opportunities for error meant each single step of preparation and administration that was relevant for the drug. Most errors applied to the category "uniform mixing" (adult ICU: n=227, 59%; NICU/PICU: n=14, 37%). The multivariate logistic regression results showed a significantly different influence of the "preparation type" for the adult ICU compared with the NICU/PICU with regard to the occurrence of an error. Preparations for adult patients of the LCD type (liquid concentrate with diluent into syringe or infusion bag) were more often associated with errors than the P (powder in a glass vial that must be reconstituted and diluted if necessary), P=0.012, and LC (liquid concentrate into syringe), P=0.002 type. Conclusion: "Uniform mixing" was the most erroneous preparation step in intravenous drug preparations in two ICUs. Improvement of nurse training and the preparation of prefilled syringes in the pharmacy might reduce errors and improve the quality and safety of drug therapy.

Total cholesterol and LDL-C rates were similar for men in urban Ghana and Europe.• High total cholesterol and LDL-C were most prevalent in urban Ghanaian women.• High triglycerides were more prevalent in Ghanaian women in Ghana than in Europe.• Low HDL-C was most prevalent in rural Ghana, followed by urban Ghana and Europe.• TC/HDL-C-ratio was the highest in urban Ghanaian men and women.

Objective: Ethnic minority populations in Europe are disproportionally affected by hypertension-related complications. Early detection, adequate treatment and control of hypertension can help to prevent these complications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify levels of hypertension awareness, treatment and control among minority ethnic populations residing in Europe compared to the host European population. Design and method: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science were systematically searched for population-based studies reporting levels of hypertension awareness, treatment or control in minority ethnic populations in Europe. Using Review Manager, pooled odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, stratified by ethnic group. Results: 3532 records were screened of which sixteen were included in the analysis, comparing data of 26,800 subjects from five minority ethnic groups with 57,000 subjects from the European host population. African origin populations were more likely to be aware (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.02–1.56) and treated (OR 1.49, 1.18–1.88) for hypertension, but less likely to have their blood pressure (BP) controlled (OR 0.56, 0.40–0.78), compared to the European host population. Compared to the host population, South Asian (SA) origin populations were more likely to be aware (OR 1.15, 1.02–1.30) of their hypertension status, but there were no differences in treatment and control rates. In Turkish and Moroccan origin populations, hypertension awareness rates were lower (Turkish OR 0.81, 0.65–1.00; Moroccan OR 0.46, 0.62–1.00), as were treatment levels in Moroccan population (OR 0.77, 0.60–0.97), and a trend towards lower BP control rates compared to the European populations. Hypertension awareness and control rates did not differ between Chinese origin populations and the European host population (no data on treatment available). Conclusions: Levels of hypertension awareness, treatment and control differ between ethnic groups in Europe. Effort should be made to improve hypertension control in African origin populations and awareness, treatment and control in Turkish and Moroccan populations, aiming to reduce ethnic inequalities in hypertension-related complications.