2021 Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 79-85
In hemodialysis outpatients, it is important to control serum phosphorus levels in the target range by meal management and hyperphosphatemia drugs. However, information is limited about the patients’ backgrounds involving in the poor control of serum phosphorus levels. In this study, we performed a survey about the effects of patient age, gender, and diabetes mellitus on the control of serum phosphorus levels in hemodialysis outpatients at Sapporo Minami Ichijo Hospital. We also investigated the prescription and the cost of hyperphosphatemia drugs in the patients with poorly-controlled serum phosphorus levels. There was a tendency that serum phosphorus levels became greater than the target level in male patients with lower age and in patients with diabetes mellitus. Moreover, the concomitant use of expensive hyperphosphatemia drugs was more remarkable in the patients with poorly-controlled serum phosphorus levels than in well-controlled patients. This leaded to the significant increase in the cost of hyperphosphatemia drugs. A likely reason for inappropriate serum phosphorus levels in these hemodialysis outpatients was poor medication adherence in taking hyperphosphatemia drugs. Accordingly, the improvement of medication adherence through more active intervention by pharmacists is essential for controlling serum phosphorus levels appropriately and for reducing drug costs in hemodialysis outpatients.
