The use of DS among patients with CKD is similar to patients without CKD, with the exception of those on dialysis. Vitamins and minerals were the most commonly reported DS consumed. The knowledge on potential side-effectof DS was limited to approximately one-fourth of those surveyed.

Background: Analgesics can be sold following medical prescription, but also as over-the-counter (OTC) medications. In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), their use could potentially be associated with increased risk of side-effects, due to impaired renal elimination. The aim was to evaluate the epidemiology and indications for the use of OTC analgesics, and the knowledge of their side-effects in patients with CKD. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, controlled survey on the use of OTC analgesic drugs was conducted among 180 CKD patients (stage 1-5, dialysis, kidney transplant), compared to 60 controls. Results: The proportion of patients using OTC analgesics on a regular basis was higher in the CKD group, compared to controls (18.9% vs. 10.0%, p<0.02). The major indications included musculoskeletal issues, followed by headaches and other. Subgroup analysis revealed that analgesic use was lowest among transplanted patients, in comparison to CKD stage 1-5, and dialysis subjects (10%, 20%, 26%, respectively, p=0.06). Less than half of CKD patients and controls declared any knowledge on potential side-effects of analgesic drugs (45.6% vs. 40.0%, NS). Conclusions: The use of OTC analgesics among patients with CKD is higher than in subjects without CKD, with the exception of transplanted patients. The knowledge on the potential side-effect of analgesics is limited.