The American journal of the medical sciences
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The population of hospitalized older patients is increasing. We investigated whether clinicians accurately detected renal insufficiency in older patients and chose correct doses of commonly prescribed antibiotics. ⋯ Widespread errors in medication dosing are made in elderly hospitalized patients. The Cockroft-Gault equation reveals significant renal insufficiency requiring dose adjustments in most elderly patients studied, especially those > 85 years of age and with low body weight. Estimation of glomerular filtration rate should be performed routinely on all admitted patients older than 80 and in any patient with low lean body mass.