Objectiveto determine the proportion of patients aged 75 years or older with chronic kidney disease and an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, for whom at least one medication-related treatment modification was proposed following the structured review.MethodsA single-centre, uncontrolled longitudinal study evaluating a structured medication review and the subsequent implementation of proposed treatment modifications was conducted in patients aged 75 years or older with an estimated glomerular filtration rate below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Data was obtained from laboratory systems, medical records, and electronic prescribing. Chronic medication was reviewed using a structured therapeutic appropriateness guide according to renal function. Sociodemographic variables, comorbidity, polypharmacy, need for intervention, and changes made after the treatment modifications were analysed.ResultsAmong the 1,937 patients aged ≥75 years registered at the primary care centre, 178 met the study eligibility criteria based on a recorded eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Mean age was 86.2 years, 69.6% were women, and 88.7% were exposed to polypharmacy. At least one medication-related treatment modification was proposed for 111 patients (62.4%), with 215 individual modifications proposed overall. The therapeutic groups with the greatest need for intervention were analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, oral antidiabetic agents, and antihypertensive drugs. At follow-up, corresponding prescription changes were observed for 114 of the 215 proposed modifications (53.0%). At the patient level, at least one corresponding prescription change was observed in 64 of the 111 patients for whom one or more modifications had been proposed (57.7%).ConclusionThe structured medication review identified a substantial number of potential medication-related problems and proposed treatment modifications in older patients with reduced renal function. Approximately half of the proposed modifications were observed in the electronic prescription at follow-up. However, because the study lacked a control group, the extent to which these changes were attributable to the structured review cannot be determined.
Structured medication review in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease to assess treatment appropriateness
María Antonia Sánchez-Calavera
