Compliance with the DPP-4 inhibitors dose adjustment recommendations based on renal function in a population database.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prescription pattern of the different dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is), depending on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) under real-world clinical practice conditions. METHOD: This was a descriptive, observational study using a population database (SIDIAP Catalonia). Subjects diagnosed with T2DM with kidney function assessed and on active treatment with DPP4is were enrolled. Patients were included at the time of the measurement of eGFR (CKD-epi) and were monitored for 6 months after enrolment. For each subject, the prescribed daily dose (PDD) of DPP4i, the theoretical dose according to the degree of renal failure established by the recommendations in the summary of product characteristics (DDD-adj), and the PDR ratio (PDD/DDD-adj) were estimated. A subject was considered overtreated if his/her RDR was greater than 1.2 (>20%). RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 72,135 subjects with a mean age of 69.7 (±11.6) years and 55.9% males. The proportion of patients overtreated varied depending on the type of DPP4i and the renal function stage. Overall, overdosage was recorded in 7.15% of all DPP4i treatments. In advanced stages (IIIb, IV, and V), overdosage was much higher (36.8% for all DPP4is, and 58.7% if linagliptin is excluded). DISCUSSION: Under real-world clinical practice conditions, more than one third of T2DM patients with advanced renal failure were overdosed with DPP4is because the doses were not adequately adjusted to the glomerular filtration rate of each patient.

[Heart failure patients in Primary Care: aging, comorbidities and polypharmacy]. / Pacientes con el diagnóstico de insuficiencia cardiaca en Atención Primaria: envejecimiento, comorbilidad y polifarmacia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess heart failure prevalence, epidemiology, co-morbidities and polypharmacy in our region from electronic patient records. To evaluate gender differences in heart failure patients. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary care Lleida (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: All patients from 21 primary care centers with the diagnosis of heart failure in medical records were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Demographic data, comorbidities and therapeutical subgroups in patients with a diagnosis of heart failure in their clinical record. RESULTS: Heart failure was found in 0.99% (3017 from 306229 patients), of whom 59% were women, and a mean age of 80 years. Comorbidities: hypertension 67%, diabetes 30%, hyperlipidemia 26.5%, obesity 27%, ischemic heart disease 19%, stroke 11%, atrial fibrillation 31%, COPD 26%, renal failure 12%. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity were more frequent in women, COPD, ischemic heart disease and renal failure in men. There were no differences in diabetes, stroke and atrial fibrillation. Patients were prescribed a median of 8 different therapeutic subgroups (P25=6 and P75=11). Women were more frequently prescribed diuretics (76%), cardiac glycosides (22%) and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor antagonists, and men ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor antagonists in combination with beta-blockers. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure patients in primary care are elderly, with significant co-morbidities and treated with a high number of drugs. Gender differences exist in cardiovascular risk factors, co-morbidities, and also in therapy.