BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses significant public health concerns. Early identification and interventions can help prevent or slow progression to end-stage renal disease. OBJECTIVE: To characterize CKD in high-risk indigent patients in a primary care setting and evaluate opportunities for pharmacists to work collaboratively with physicians to improve medication use and CKD patient outcomes. METHODS: Medical records of 200 patients with diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension were reviewed by the clinical pharmacist. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (creatinine clearance [Cl(cr)]) and urinalysis were used to identify and stage CKD according to published guidelines. Glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations and blood pressures were recorded. The pharmacist evaluated medications for possible drug-related problems (DRPs), made therapeutic recommendations, and evaluated the acceptance rate by physicians. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen patients met inclusion criteria, and a total of 68.9% met CKD criteria: stage 1, 16.0%; stage 2, 20.2%; stage 3, 25.2%; stage 4, 1.7%; stage 5, 0.8%; and not stageable, 5.0%. A total of 381 DRPs were identified, averaging 3.2 (1.7) per patient (range 0-11). The number of DRPs correlated with Cl(cr) (r = -0.25; p = 0.007). Therapeutic recommendations included change of drug, dose and/or interval adjustment of the current drug, discontinuation of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, additional laboratory monitoring, meeting goal blood pressure and glycosylated hemoglobin, adding renoprotective drug and/or low-dose aspirin, and nephrologist referral. Fewer than half (40.9%) of the recommendations were accepted or accepted with modifications, and an approximately equal percentage were not accepted by the physicians. CONCLUSIONS: CKD prevalence was high among the patients evaluated here. New guidelines are available to assist in managing CKD ambulatory patients. Pharmacist collaboration with physicians may optimize CKD screening in high-risk patients and improve medication usage.
BACKGROUND:Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses significant public health concerns. Early identification and interventions can help prevent or slow progression to end-stage renal disease. OBJECTIVE: To characterize CKD in high-risk indigent patients in a primary care setting and evaluate opportunities for pharmacists to work collaboratively with physicians to improve medication use and CKD patient outcomes. METHODS: Medical records of 200 patients with diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension were reviewed by the clinical pharmacist. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (creatinine clearance [Cl(cr)]) and urinalysis were used to identify and stage CKD according to published guidelines. Glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations and blood pressures were recorded. The pharmacist evaluated medications for possible drug-related problems (DRPs), made therapeutic recommendations, and evaluated the acceptance rate by physicians. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen patients met inclusion criteria, and a total of 68.9% met CKD criteria: stage 1, 16.0%; stage 2, 20.2%; stage 3, 25.2%; stage 4, 1.7%; stage 5, 0.8%; and not stageable, 5.0%. A total of 381 DRPs were identified, averaging 3.2 (1.7) per patient (range 0-11). The number of DRPs correlated with Cl(cr) (r = -0.25; p = 0.007). Therapeutic recommendations included change of drug, dose and/or interval adjustment of the current drug, discontinuation of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, additional laboratory monitoring, meeting goal blood pressure and glycosylated hemoglobin, adding renoprotective drug and/or low-dose aspirin, and nephrologist referral. Fewer than half (40.9%) of the recommendations were accepted or accepted with modifications, and an approximately equal percentage were not accepted by the physicians. CONCLUSIONS: CKD prevalence was high among the patients evaluated here. New guidelines are available to assist in managing CKD ambulatory patients. Pharmacist collaboration with physicians may optimize CKD screening in high-risk patients and improve medication usage.
Authors: Arjen F J Geerts; Nynke D Scherpbier-de Haan; Fred H P de Koning; Tim M J W van der Sterren; Chris van Weel; Gerald M M Vervoort; Peter A G M de Smet; Wim J C de Grauw Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2012-08 Impact factor: 5.386
Authors: Ronald L Castelino; Sarah N Hilmer; Beata V Bajorek; Prasad Nishtala; Timothy F Chen Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2010-02-01 Impact factor: 3.923