Drug Related Problems in Hospitalized Patients with Kidney Diseases and Clinical Pharmacists' Services—a Prospective Study in China

Abstract BackgroundThe patients with kidney diseases are at high risk of Drug related problems (DRPs) because of the multi-morbidity associated polypharmacy and pharmacokinetic change. The study aimed to identify DRPs in hospitalized patients with kidney diseases and the effectiveness of clinical pharmacists’ service in China.MethodsThe patients, admitted to the Nephrology department of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital between January to December 2020, were enrolled in this prospective study. Clinical pharmacists’ service consisted of medication reconciliation, identifying DRPs and providing suggestions. The DRPs were classified using pharmaceutical care net-work Europe (PCNE) DRPs classification system, as well as all data were statistical calculated via SPSS version 26.0.ResultsFrom 914 patients with renal disease in the study, 45.95% of them had at least one DRP. A total of 463 DRPs were identified, and 84.23% of DRPs were solved with participation of clinical pharmacists. Presence of co-morbidities(AOR = 1.187[1.059–1.329]), polypharmacy (AOR = 1.050[1.031–1.069]) and hospitalization days (AOR = 1.035[1.001–1.071]) were predictors of DRPs.ConclusionDRPs were common in the Nephropathy hospitalized patients. Co-morbidities, polypharmacy and extended length of stay could contribute to form DRPs. Clinical pharmacy service is necessary to the optimization of drug therapy in hospitalized patients with kidney diseases.