Published in

MDPI, Journal of Clinical Medicine, 3(8), p. 395, 2019

DOI: 10.3390/jcm8030395

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Medication-Related Factors and Hospital Readmission in Older Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the association between medication-related factors and risk of hospital readmission in older patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A retrospective analysis was conducted targeting older CKD (n = 204) patients admitted to an Australian hospital. Medication appropriateness (Medication Appropriateness Index; MAI), medication regimen complexity (number of medications and Medication Regimen Complexity Index; MRCI) and use of selected medication classes were exposure variables. Outcomes were occurrence of readmission within 30 and 90 days, and time to readmission within 90 days. Logistic and Cox hazards regression were used to identify factors associated with readmission. Overall, 50 patients (24%) were readmitted within 30 days, while 81 (40%) were readmitted within 90 days. Mean time to readmission within 90 days was 66 (SD 34) days. Medication appropriateness and regimen complexity were not independently associated with 30- or 90-day hospital readmissions in older adults with CKD, whereas use of renin‒angiotensin blockers was associated with reduced occurrence of 30-day (adjusted OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.19–0.79) and 90-day readmissions (adjusted OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.24–0.84) and longer time to readmission within 90 days (adjusted HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.33–0.83). This finding highlights the importance of considering the potential benefits of individual medications during medication review in older CKD patients.