title: Effect of chronic kidney disease on warfarin management in a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is growing evidence that kidney disease affects hepatically cleared drugs. Accordingly, we hypothesized that chronic kidney disease (CKD) would disrupt anticoagulation of warfarin-treated patients and thereby increase the amount of management required to maintain appropriate anticoagulation. Specifically, we anticipated that more dose manipulations (both dose changes and transient dose adjustments) and shorter times between scheduled clinic visits would be required for anticoagulation patients with CKD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine how CKD affected warfarin maintenance dose, anticoagulation stability, the proportion of clinic visits that necessitated a dose manipulation (either a change in the prescribed weekly dose or a transient dose adjustment), and the length of time between scheduled visits in 2 pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our retrospective, cohort chart review investigated warfarin response in anticoagulation clinic patients. From the clinic database of patients with an international normalized ratio (INR) target range of 2.0-3.0, we matched 20 of 24 patients with CKD (estimated creatinine clearance less than 60 mL per minute) to 20 comparison group patients (estimated creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL per minute) based on parameters demonstrated to affect warfarin dose: ethnicity, gender, age, body surface area, and simvastatin use. We calculated the average weekly dose used to maintain target INR (assessment period range=116-1,408 days). To evaluate anticoagulation stability and patient management, we quantified several parameters, including the percentage of total time in therapeutic range, the proportion of clinic visits that required a dose change, and the time between scheduled visits. We compared group means using t-tests, and categorical data were compared using Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our population was predominantly female (75%) and of African ancestry (95%); average age 60 years. Patients with CKD required a 24% lower dose than the comparison group (mean [SD]=35.9 [10.7] vs. 47.0 [11.2] mg per week, P=0.003) and spent less time in therapeutic range required increased clinic management versus the comparison group, as indicated by a significantly higher proportion of clinic visits at which dose changes occurred (22% vs. 12%, P<0.001) and a decreased time between scheduled visits (mean [SD] of 16.0 [3.2] days vs. 19.7 [3.4] days, respectively, P=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CKD was associated with both decreased warfarin maintenance dose and decreased anticoagulation stability which, in turn, required more frequent and intensive anticoagulation clinic management.
authors.affiliation: Harper University Hospital, Detroit Medical Center, and Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, 421 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201. USA.
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kleinow
authors.forename: Candice L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Garwood
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Clemente
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whittaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D003404:Creatinine