Prescribing for older people with chronic renal impairment. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Renal function is an important prescribing consideration. On average, glomerular filtration rate declines by about 10 mL/min every 10 years after the age of 40. Renal impairment may cause medicines to accumulate or cause toxicity, especially if the medicine has a narrow therapeutic index. OBJECTIVE: To present an overview of prescribing considerations in the primary care setting for patients with chronic renal impairment. DISCUSSION: Serum creatinine considered in isolation is not a reliable indicator of renal function. The estimated glomerular filtration rate provided in pathology reporting can alert prescribers to possible renal impairment and the need to consider dose adjustments. The Cockcroft-Gault equation should be used to adjust medicine doses. Renal function monitoring is recommended for patients using medicines that can impair renal function or cause nephrotoxicity (eg. NSAIDs, ACEIs, ARBs).

publication date

  • January 1, 2013

Research

keywords

  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84874704599

PubMed ID

  • 23529455

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 42

issue

  • 1-2