Phosphate binder in dialysis: a cross-sectional study of patients' adherence and pill burden

• Published in: Brazilian Journal of Nephrology 2025-01, Vol.47 (1)
• Main Authors: Ferezin, Brunelle Bruna Scavello Coelho, Araújo, Luiza Karla Ramos Pereira de, Lima, Carolina Marquez, Abensur, Hugo, Pereira, Benedito Jorge, Dalboni, Maria Aparecida, Moyses, Rosa Maria Affonso, Elias, Rosilene Motta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calcium Carbonate; Chronic Kidney Disease; Dialysis; Hyperphosphatemia; Original; P Binder; Phosphate Binder; Sevelamer
• ISSN: 0101-2800; 2175-8239
• DOI: 10.1590/2175-8239-jbn-2024-0075en

Abstract Introduction: Phosphate (P) binders are among the most common medications prescribed to control P levels in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. There is still a paucity of data on adherence to P binders with no comparison between dialysis modalities. Methods: We accessed factors associated with P binder adherence among patients on dialysis in an academic hospital. Adherence was calculated as the ratio between the number of pills taken per day as reported and the prescribed number of pills. Patients were considered non-adherent if adherence was at least 20% less or 30% more than prescribed. Results: Patients (N = 137) were young, mostly women, and on dialysis for a median time of 53 months. Sevelamer and calcium carbonate were prescribed as P binders to 70.8% and 10.2% of patients, respectively, with no difference across dialysis modalities (p = 0.839). P correlated with the number of pills prescribed (r = 0.368, p = 0.001) and the number of pills taken per day (r = 0.275, p = 0.001). Hyperphosphatemia was found in 52 patients (36.4%). Adherence to Ca carbonate and sevelamer was 100% and 68.4%, respectively. Non-adherent patients were women, younger, with higher serum albumin and urea, and lower serum calcium. Logistic regression showed that female sex (HR 3.30, 95% CI: 1.39–7.84, p = 0.007) and hemodialysis vs. peritoneal dialysis (HR 4.55, 95%, CI: 1.26–16.39, p = 0.021) remained independently associated with a non-adherence behavior. Conclusions: The current study suggests that strategies to increase adherence should be implemented. Whether phosphate binder adherence is associated with better outcomes deserves further investigation. Resumo Introdução: Quelantes de fosfato (P) estão entre os medicamentos mais comumente prescritos para controlar níveis de P em pacientes com DRC em diálise. Ainda há escassez de dados sobre adesão aos quelantes de P, sem comparações entre modalidades dialíticas. Métodos: Acessamos fatores associados à adesão ao quelante de P entre pacientes em diálise em um hospital universitário. A adesão foi calculada como a razão entre número de comprimidos tomados por dia, conforme relatado, e número de comprimidos prescritos. Pacientes foram considerados não aderentes se a adesão fosse ao menos 20% menor ou 30% maior do que o prescrito. Resultados: Os pacientes (N = 137) eram jovens, predominantemente mulheres, em diálise por um período mediano de 53 meses. Sevelamer e carbonato de cálcio foram prescritos como que