Contribution of adverse events to death of hospitalised patients.

This study used the Global Trigger Tool to review all inpatient deaths in a Norwegian hospital for evidence of adverse events. Adverse events occurred in more than a quarter of patients who died in the hospital, a significantly higher rate compared to a control group of hospitalized patients who survived. The study did not assess the preventability of deaths; prior studies have consistently found that about 5% in-hospital deaths are likely preventable.