Serious adverse event
« Back to Glossary IndexA serious adverse event (SAE) refers to any expected or unexpected adverse event, related or unrelated to the therapy being studied, occurring at any agent dose, any phase of product, or procedure testing, that results in any of the following outcomes: death, a life-threatening adverse event, requires inpatient hospitalization (not required as part of the treatment) or prolongation of existing hospitalization, a persistent or significant disability or incapacity, or cancer, or a congenital anomaly or birth defect.
Important medical events that may not result in the listed outcomes may be considered as serious when, based upon appropriate medical judgment, they represent significant hazards or potentially serious harm to the research subject or others and may require medical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed in this definition.
Sourced From
NCImetathesaurus
ClinicalTrials.gov Glossary of Common Site Terms
Learn More
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): What is a Serious Adverse Event?