Kimura H, Tanaka K, Saito H, et al. - Among Japanese patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD under nephrology care, a high risk of kidney failure, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality was observed in relation to use of a high number of medications.

• A retrospective analysis of 1,117 Japanese patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD (median age, 66 years; 56% male; median eGFR, 48 ml/min per 1.73 m ² ) to determine the link between the number of prescribed medications and adverse outcomes.

• Relative to the use of fewer than five medications, adjusted hazard ratios related to polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy (defined as the regular use of 5–9 and ≥10 medications per day, respectively) were estimated to be 2.28 and 2.83 for renal failure, 1.60 and 3.02 for cardiovascular events, and 1.25 and 2.80 for all-cause death.