Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prescribing in chronic kidney disease: an observational study

Aim: This study assessed the prescription of potentially nephrotoxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in general practice. Background: CKD poses a considerable disease burden in the UK. Guidelines state that caution should be exercised when prescribing NSAIDs to CKD patients, due to increased risk of rapid kidney disease progression. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 1427 patients with CKD Stages 3–5 in seven general practices in West Yorkshire. Findings: A total of 792 (55.5%) were prescribed NSAIDs; 128 (9%) of these were prescribed NSAIDs excluding low-dose aspirin. Twenty-three (20.2%) patients who were prescribed NSAIDs had no record of CKD monitoring in the preceding year. Conclusion: Prescription of NSAIDs is likely to be contributing to unnecessary renal impairment.