Medication Burden and Inappropriate Prescription Risk Among Elderly With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Background Elderly patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently present comorbidities that put them at risk of polypharmacy and medication-related problems. This study aims to describe the overall medication profile of patients aged ≥ 75 years with advanced CKD from a multicenter French study and specifically the renally (RIMs) and potentially inappropriate-for-the-elderly medications (PIMs) that they take. Methods This is a cross-sectional analysis of medication profiles of individuals aged ≥ 75 years with eGFR < 20 ml/min/1.73m2 followed by a nephrologist, who collected their active prescriptions at the study inclusion visit. Medication profiles were analyzed according to route of administration, therapeutic classification, and their potential inappropriateness for these patients, according to Beers' criteria. Results We collected 5196 individual medication prescriptions for 556 patients, for a median of 9 daily medications [7-11]. Antihypertensive agents, antithrombotics, and antianemics were the classes most frequently prescribed. Moreover, 88% of patients had at least 1 medication classified as a RIM, and 21% of those were contraindicated drugs. At least 1 PIM was taken by 68.9%. The prescriptions most frequently requiring reassessment due to potential adverse effects were for proton pump inhibitors and allopurinol. The PIMs for which deprescription is especially important in this population are rilmenidine, long-term benzodiazepines, and anticholinergic drugs such as hydroxyzine. Conclusion We showed potential drug-related problems in elderly patients with advanced CKD. Healthcare providers must reassess each medication prescribed for this population, particularly the specific medications identified here.