Patients with Kidney Diseases Likely to Experience Hazardous Events During Treatment

People suffering from chronic kidney diseases (CKD) are at higher risk of adverse outcomes during hospitalization due to complex medical care and the nature of the disease.

The researchers used data of 267 pre-dialysis patients who were enrolled in Safe Kidney Care study to determine the incidence of adverse safety events and complications during medical care in treatment of CKD. They noted patients-reported adverse safety incidents (Class I) or the dangerous symptoms caused by side effects of drugs and actionable safety findings (Class II) or the events that can be corrected by making changes in the treatments and medications given to the patients.          

According to the study, conditions like low blood sugar or hypoglycemia and high potassium levels in the blood or hyperkalemia were the most common complications that occur during treatments given to CKD patient. These conditions were treated as Class I and II form of adverse events. Hypoglycemia occurs in diabetic patients and symptoms include dizziness and lightheadedness.

The results showed nearly 185 participants had at least one class I or class II events, 102 had more than one event and 48 suffered events from both classes.               

Jeffrey Fink, study author and researcher from the University of Maryland said in a press statement, "Disease-specific adverse safety event events are strikingly common in CKD and in the setting of medications that can account for such events. It is possible that efforts to prevent these unintended events will reduce the rate of renal function loss and poor outcomes in patients with CKD."

Impairment of kidneys and the complexity of medical procedures are main reasons behind creating chances for hazardous events. The authors noted, "Some studies have assessed the harms that CKD patients experience when they're hospitalized, but most of the care they receive is delivered outside of the hospital."

The study is published in the journal American Society of Nephrology.