• Kailin L Hsu, Jeffrey C Fink, Jennifer S Ginsberg, Marni Yoffe, Min Zhan, Wanda Fink, Corinne M Woods, and Clarissa J Diamantidis.
• Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
• Am. J. Kidney Dis. 2015 Oct 1; 66 (4): 621-9.

BackgroundPromoting medication adherence is a recognized challenge for prescribers. In this study, we examine whether lower medication adherence is associated with adverse safety events in individuals with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs).Study DesignCross-sectional baseline analysis of prospective cohort.Setting & ParticipantsBaseline analysis of the Safe Kidney Care (SKC) Cohort Study, a prospective study of individuals with eGFRs<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) intended to assess the incidence of disease-specific safety events. Kidney transplant recipients were excluded.PredictorSelf-reported medication adherence based on responses to 3 questions ascertaining degree of medication regimen adherence.OutcomesAdverse safety events were self-reported at baseline (class I events), such as hypoglycemia or fall thought to be related to a medication, or detected incidentally during the baseline visit (class II events), for example, hypotension or hyperkalemia. Potential drug-related problems (DRPs) were determined by analyzing participants' medications with respect to dosing guidelines based on their screening eGFRs at the time of medication reporting.MeasurementsRelationship between medication adherence and disease-specific patient safety events.ResultsOf 293 SKC participants, 154 (53%) were classified as having lower medication adherence. After multivariable adjustment, lower medication adherence was significantly associated with a class I or II safety event (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.41) and potential DRPs (PR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.02-1.63). Lower medication adherence was also significantly associated with multiple (≥2) class I events (PR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.18-2.49), multiple class I or II events (PR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.04-1.76), and multiple potential DRPs (PR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.08-2.69) compared with those with higher medication adherence.LimitationsUse of self-reported medication adherence rather than pharmacy records. Clinical relevance of detected safety events is unclear.ConclusionsLower medication adherence is associated with adverse safety events in individuals with eGFRs<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2).Copyright © 2015 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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