Abstract
Background Harmonizing formulas have been demonstrated to be associated with reduced risk of end-stage renal disease in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the target population and indications of harmonizing formulas in CKD remain unknown. Methods We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study to explore factors associated with harmonizing formulas prescription. Patients who had been prescribed harmonizing formulas after CKD diagnosis were defined as the using harmonizing formulas group. Disease diagnoses for harmonizing formula prescriptions and patient characteristics related to the prescriptions were collected. Results In total, 24,971 patients were enrolled in this analysis, and 5,237 (21%) patients were prescribed harmonizing formulas after CKD diagnosis. The three most frequent systematic diseases and related health problems for which harmonizing formula prescriptions were issued in CKD were symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions (24.5%), diseases of the digestive system, (20.67%), and diseases of the musculoskeletal system (12.9%). Higher likelihoods of harmonizing formula prescriptions were associated with young age (adjusted odds ratio: 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.97–0.98), female sex (1.79, 1.68–1.91), no diabetes (1.20, 1.06–1.35), no hypertension (1.38, 1.26–1.50), no cerebrovascular disease (1.34, 1.14–1.56), less disease severity (0.86, 0.83–0.89), using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (1.65, 1.54–1.78), and using analgesic drugs other than NSAIDs (1.46, 1.35–1.59). Conclusions Harmonizing formulas are commonly used for treating symptoms of the digestive and musculoskeletal systems in CKD cases. Further research on harmonizing formula effectiveness with regard to particular characteristics of CKD patients is warranted.
Association between body mass index and chronic kidney disease: A population-based, cross-sectional study of a Japanese community
