European project for the prevention of iatrogenic diseases

Iatrogenicity refers to unintended complications or adverse effects resulting from healthcare, including the use of medications, that can lead to loss of autonomy and dependence. This includes, among others, falls, loss of mobility, adverse drug reactions, or infections associated with healthcare techniques (e.g., catheters).

The concept of iatrogenic dependence is the progressive decrease in associated functional capacities, secondary to iatrogenesis (hospitalisation or when induced by medications, such as analgesics or sedatives). In older adults, this loss of autonomy may go unnoticed and is one of the most frequent consequences of hospital stays.

A study published in Medicina Clínica (Rojano X, et al., 2016) shows that 30% to 60% of this group experiences functional deterioration during or after hospitalisation, which reinforces the urgency of preventing these risks.

Dr María Montoya, specialist in geriatrics and researcher in the project, explains: “Older adults have a greater risk of suffering iatrogenic diseases, and the most worrying thing is that, in many cases, their effects are not reversible, which permanently impacts their functionality”, thereby reinforcing the need to prevent these risks.

The STOP-IATRO project, funded by the European Union through the Interreg Sudoe programme, brings together six entities from Spain, France and Portugal. The general coordination is carried out by the Toulouse University Hospital Centre (CHUT) and the Toulouse Gerontology Centre. In Spain, the UAB Health and Ageing Foundation of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (FSiE UAB) and the Malaga Biomedical Research Institute (IBIMA) are involved.

From diagnostics to action: this is how the project advances

The Project is developed in three phases, each of which promotes interdisciplinarity and the participation of older adults.

The initial phase began in 2024, when surveys, interviews and transnational analyses were carried out to assess the level of knowledge of healthcare professionals and to map the trajectory of older patients. The towns of Badalona, ​​Ripollès, Reus and Tortosa participated in this first phase.

Workshops and working groups are being held in the four previously mentioned towns of Catalonia throughout this 2025. The aim is to identify the factors that favour iatrogenicity and iatrogenic dependence, including those induced by medications, and to propose specific solutions to reduce their impact.

The final phase, planned for 2026, includes the implementation of pilot actions in hospitals, primary care centres, and in the older adult community itself. They will be designed in a collaborative and interdisciplinary manner, and with patients, to guarantee innovative, safer and person-centred care.

With these actions, STOP-IATRO aims to raise awareness and train healthcare professionals, reduce risks and improve the quality of care in southwestern Europe. The aim is to build safer and more resilient healthcare systems, while ensuring the autonomy and health of older people, so that they can maintain their goals, well-being, and the full respect of their rights.