title: Comparison of equations for dosing of medications requiring renal adjustment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations for renal dosing of medications in primary care patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with stages 3, 4, or 5 chronic kidney disease who had been prescribed one of the renally cleared study medications during a 16-month time period were identified. The appropriate dose of patients' study medications, based on their most recent creatinine clearance (CrCl) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), was determined. The primary outcome was the rate in which the CG and MDRD equations provided the same dosing recommendation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate at which the CG ideal body weight and MDRD equations recommended the same dose was 59.6% (P = 0.001). The rate at which the CG actual body weight and MDRD equations recommended the same dose was 71.1% ( P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant difference exists in the doses derived from the CG and MDRD equations in the primary care setting. CG should continue to be used for renal dosing until further recommendations are available.
authors: Steward Health Care Network, Dedham, MA 02026, USA. bethany.lessard@steward.org
authors: Bethany A
authors: BA
authors: Lessard
authors: Kathy
authors: K
authors: Zaiken
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D011320:Primary Health Care; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D003404:Creatinine