Abstract
Background
Hospice-eligible patients are vulnerable to adverse medication effects given their advanced illnesses and general older age. It is not known how often medications are not renal dose adjusted in hospice-eligible patients and which are frequently problematic. This study aims to identify commonly prescribed medications with significant renal clearance that are dosed too high and patient characteristics that increase the likelihood of occurrence.
Methods
This is a retrospective chart review of adult patients admitted to hospice care. Data collected included clinical/demographic data, renally cleared medications taken at time of hospice admission, and calculated renal function using several formulas. Descriptive statistics and binomial logistic regression were used to analyze data.
Results
Of 283 included charts, 27% had ≥1 medication dosed too high for renal function. The most common medications prescribed and not renal dose adjusted included tramadol, gabapentin, duloxetine, loratadine, cetirizine, famotidine, apixaban, rivaroxaban, metformin, trospium, and most antimicrobials. Increasing serum creatinine values and increasing number of renally cleared medications were associated with a higher likelihood of a medication dosed too high [OR, 1.702, 95% CI (1.257, 2.305), P < 0.001] and [OR, 1.856, 95% CI (1.517, 2.271), P < 0.001] respectively. Residing at home vs a facility was associated with a reduced likelihood of having a medication dosed too high [OR, 0.30, 95% CI (0.134, 0.673), P = 0.003.].
Conclusions
Hospice-eligible patients frequently have renally cleared medications prescribed and at doses too high for their renal function. Analgesics, over-the-counter antihistamines, anticoagulants, anticholinergics have potential for significant adverse effects and higher vigilance is needed.
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