ABSTRACT
Background: kidney failure presents as a significant public health concern and managing it can be challenging because it requires the use of multiple drugs which causes high risk of developing drug related problems. Objectives: This study was carried out to identify the co-morbid conditions, risk factors and the prescribing patterns of drugs used in managing kidney failure. Methods: After obtaining the Hospital’s Ethics Committee approval, a retrospective cross sectional study was carried out where medical case files of kidney failure patients who attended and received prescriptions from the internal medicine wards of University of Benin Teaching Hospital between September 2023 to December 2023 were systematically sampled and investigated. This study included patients of both genders who are 18 years and above. Newly diagnosed and known case of kidney disease patients were also included. These case files were obtained from discharged patients record in the me dical out-patient library. The prescription pattern was assessed using WHO prescribing indicators. Results: Among the 100 patients with kidney failure, 60% were women while 40% were men. Majority of the patients were in the age group 41-61years. Of the co-morbid conditions associated with kidney failure, hypertension was most common with 37.04%. Also, of the risk factors of kidney failure, hypertension with 59% in total was most prevalent with 29.3%, 34.7%, 36% occurrence in patients who were less than 40 years,40-60 years and above 60 years respectively. Out of the drugs prescribed, multivitamins 28.63%, anti-hypertensives 24.53%, diuretics 24.53% were most prevalent. The average number of drugs per prescription was 11.1, antibiotics, injections and generics encountered were 49%, 42.18% and 58.54% respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, more women had kidney failure compared to men. Also, hypertension was the most common co-morbidity and leading cause of kidney failure. Multivitamins was the most common drug prescribed in managing kidney failure. KEYWORDS: Kidney failure, WHO prescribing indicators, Co morbidities, Risk factors.
