Hospital pharmacist intervention improves the quality indicator of warfarin control: A retrospective cohort study.

Background/Aims Our previous study showed that time in therapeutic range (TTR) control of warfarin therapy was negatively affected in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients with heart failure. This study assesses the effect of intervention by hospital pharmacists on TTR control in Japanese NVAF patients with heart failure. Method This retrospective cohort study included NVAF patients with heart failure admitted and discharged from the cardiovascular internal medicine ward between March 2011 and July 2013. Participants were classified into two groups according to the instructions by hospital pharmacists and physicians (Intervention group) and by physicians only (Usual care group). The primary outcome was TTR. Secondary outcomes were major bleeding and minor bleeding. Results In total, 57 participants (35 males, 22 females; mean age: 69.7 years) were classified into the Intervention (n = 25) and Usual care (n = 32) groups. TTR within-therapeutic range was significantly higher and within sub-therapeutic range was significantly lower in the Intervention than the Usual care group. Major bleeding and minor bleeding were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion The intervention of hospital pharmacists with anticoagulation therapy can lead to proper use of warfarin, which can be useful when physicians prescribe warfarin. J. Med. Invest. 64: 266-271, August, 2017.

Early rehospitalization after initial chronic kidney disease educational hospitalization relates with a multidisciplinary medical team.

BACKGROUND: It is well-documented that chronic kidney disease (CKD) often results in end-stage renal failure and puts patients at extremely high risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Educational hospitalization at medical institutions in Japan is important for patients with CKD because it facilitates treatment in earlier stages of CKD when subjective symptoms are not apparent. However, some patients who have achieved their educational targets tend to have poor compliance at home after discharge from the hospital, resulting in rehospitalization shortly. In this study, we examined the factors for early rehospitalization of patients after initial CKD educational hospitalization compared with non-rehospitalized patients. METHODS: One hundred thirty-seven patients after discharge from CKD educational hospitalization in Japan between March 2011 and December 2012 were included in the analyses. The subjects were classified into two groups: the early rehospitalization group and control group. We adjusted for confounding variables and performed multiple logistic regression analysis with the presence or absence of early rehospitalization as a dependent variable to investigate the association of early rehospitalization with patient background features, laboratory data, vital signs, instruction-related items, and home environment. RESULTS: Study subjects included 22 patients in the early hospitalization group and 115 patients in control group. Multivariable analysis for early rehospitalization indicated that insufficient instruction by physician, pharmacist, and dietitians was independent explanatory variable. Analyzing by Kaplan-Meier method, the probability of non-rehospitalization in the instruction group was significantly higher than that in the non-instruction group. Therefore, we believe it is necessary to involve a competent, multidisciplinary medical team (consisting of physicians, pharmacists, and dietitians) in addressing the early rehospitalization issue in patients with CKD. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm the importance of care by a multidisciplinary medical team in patients with CKD. Therefore, we suggest that care by a multidisciplinary medical team reduces the increase of early rehospitalization in patients with CKD.

Analysis of factors affecting rehospitalization of patients with chronic kidney disease after educational hospitalization.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease complications. Therefore, medical institutions conduct educational hospitalization for early treatment and education of CKD patients. However, patients who have been discharged after achieving educational targets can end up showing poor symptoms at home. There also have been several cases of rehospitalization or disease aggravation. In this study, we analyzed rehospitalized patients who were discharged from the hospital after CKD educational hospitalization and investigated the purpose of analyzing rehospitalization factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational case-control study conducted at Yokosuka Kyousai Hospital. We performed univariate analysis using patient background features and laboratory data between a rehospitalization group and a no-rehospitalization group. Next, we performed multiple logistic regression analysis using the results of the univariate analysis. RESULTS: From the results of this study, we identified independent risk factors, such as serum albumin level, heart-failure complications, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Moreover, the serum Alb level was identified as the most important risk factor for rehospitalization. Therefore, we considered that it is important to live a life that makes it possible to maintain CKD stage G3b for a long time after discharge, because the cutoff level of eGFR is 31 mL/minute/1.73 m(2). CONCLUSION: We believe that it is important to educate patients, their families, and medical staff on the importance of early detection and treatment, and we consider that this approach is important to inclusively protect the kidney.

Effects on serum uric acid by difference of the renal protective effects with atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in chronic kidney disease patients.

Hyperuricemia and hyperlipidemia have attracted attention as progression factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD). In the drug treatment of hyperuricemia and hyperlipidemia complications, Atorvastatin (ATV), which inhibits urinary protein, increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and has renal protective effects, and Rosuvastatin (ROS) were found be suitable because they promote serum uric acid (SUA) excretion. However, these drugs were administered at very high doses in previous studies. In this study, we have investigated the effects of ATV or ROS on renal protective effects and their SUA levels before and three months after each drug administration in CKD patients. We retrospectively investigated outpatients presenting with CKD (stages 3) on the basis of their electronic medical records as subjects. Estimated GFR (eGFR) was significantly increased after ATV administration, whereas no change in eGFR was observed following ROS administration. Furthermore, SUA levels significantly decreased after ATV administration, whereas no changes were observed following ROS administration. Therefore, it may be not necessary to administer drugs that lower the SUA levels to patients presenting with hyperuricemia and hyperlipidemia complications associated with moderate renal failure, such as patients with at least stage 3 CKD. We consider that, by selecting ATV, the renal protective effects and SUA-lowering effect would be sufficient.