title: Prescriber compliance with renal function monitoring in patients taking dabigatran (Pradaxa).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether patients prescribed dabigatran had their renal function monitored in accordance with published guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited patients from Hutt Hospital and two large primary care practices if they were prescribed dabigatran between July 2011 and April 2012. We assessed patients prescribed dabigatran for more than a year to ascertain whether renal function was monitored at least annually, in keeping with guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had baseline renal function testing. At baseline, 42 (60%) had an eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) over 60mL/min/1.73m2 and 28 (40%) had eGFR between 30-60mL/min/1.73m2. Median follow up was 46 months. Whilst taking dabigatran, 44 of the 70 patients (63%) had at least annual renal function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over one-third of patients taking dabigatran for over a year did not have their renal function monitored in keeping with current guidelines, potentially leading to an increased risk of bleeding. We suggest there is a need for an automated reminder to prompt annual renal function testing.
authors.affiliation: Hutt Hospital, Wellington. katiethorne@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dee
authors.forename: Sisira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jayathissa
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069604:Dabigatran / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000991:Antithrombins; C103024:GLMN protein, human; D000069604:Dabigatran