Life-threatening Interaction Between Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone System Inhibitors and Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in Older Adults

摘要

Older adults comprise 13% of the population of the United States and often have multiple chronic diseases that lead to the consumption of numerous prescription medications. Among the diagnoses often affecting older adults are hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Because of these diagnoses and normal physiologic changes of aging, older adults often are prescribed an inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which may increase their risk for hyperkalemia and life-threatening arrhythmias if they are prescribed trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for a urinary tract infection. Careful consideration of renal status and medication usage is important when considering antimicrobial treatment for urinary tract infections in older adults. (C) 2016 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.