Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined by reduced glomerular filtration rate, albuminuria, and the cause of renal injury. Kidney disease, particularly in the elderly population, is frequent; however, due to its asymptomatic nature, it is often overlooked or undiagnosed.
If decreased renal function is not taken into account when pharmacotherapy is chosen, the patient can easily be harmed. Patients with chronic kidney disease are at an increased risk of adverse effects of pharmacotherapy; in them, kidney disease leads to affecting the majority of pharmacokinetic parameters and, at the same time, the comorbidities typically present require the administration of additional drugs, which increases the risk of drug-drug interactions.
In elderly patients, it is advisable to follow the list of recommended and unrecommended medications in old age. In a number of drug groups, the selection and dose of the drug must be adjusted not later when reduction of renal function to stage G3b occurs.
The paper presents examples of drugs from drug groups most commonly used in the surgeries of general practitioners. It includes mechanisms of potential patient harm due to inappropriate pharmacotherapy and instructions on how to reduce this risk.