title: Renal function assessment in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescriptions. A pilot study in a primary care centre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the current state of renal function monitoring carried out on patients treated with NSAIDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected patients from a Primary Care Centre who had received NSAIDs for the first time. We checked if renal function was measured and/or controlled 2 months pre/6 months post-NSAID administration in order to assess if patient renal function was known at the time of prescription and afterwards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, there were 42 822 prescriptions made. Of these, 8611 were new drug prescriptions, of which 482 (5.6%) were NSAIDs in patients older than 14 years of age. A total of 450 patients (64% female) were treated with NSAIDs. Ibuprofen (66.0%) was the most commonly prescribed. NSAIDs were more frequently used in patients between 14-45 years of age. Only 168 (37.1%) patients underwent any analytical tests over the course of the study (68% female). Before prescription, renal function was measured in only 14% of cases (63 patients). Two patients received NSAIDs despite having high serum creatinine levels. During the follow-up, serum creatinine was measured in 129 patients (28.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In primary care, NSAIDs represent a substantial percentage of the drugs prescribed (5.6%). Ibuprofen is the most commonly prescribed. NSAIDs are more frequently used in women between 14-45 years. Musculo-skeletal pain is the main indication for prescription. Only 14% of patients receiving these drugs had previously measured levels of serum creatinine. These values are rarely taken into account when prescribing NSAIDs. Control of renal function after NSAID prescription was unusual.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacología Clínica. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal. Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS). Madrid, Spain. ipablo.hrc@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: Itziar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Pablo-López de Abechuco
authors.forename: M Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Gálvez-Múgica
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: J Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: del Rey
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuchi
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Peruca
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liaño-García
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal