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The alarming rise in the incidence of end-stage renal disease in Nigeria is likely to continue if patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) lack knowledge of this disease, its management, and practices to support effective self-management. The study aimed to assess CKD knowledge and to investigate its predictors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a paper-based questionnaire at the medical and nephrology outpatients' clinics of a secondary and tertiary hospital in Maiduguri. The study enrolled 220 patients with CKD stages 1 to 4. Sixty-five percent of the participants had poor CKD knowledge. The patients who had a tertiary level of education were significantly more likely to have higher CKD knowledge compared to those with no formal education (adjusted odds ratio: 2.62, 95% CI: 1.20-5.72). The study shows that the majority of the participants had poor CKD knowledge. Tertiary educational level was the only significant independent predictor of higher CKD knowledge. Therefore, targeted educational interventions are needed among patients with no or low formal education to be able to support them with self-management behaviors.

This study aimed at evaluating the incidence of adverse effects leading to treatment discontinuation of antihypertensive drugs within the same therapeutic class. Individual medical records were searched to identify those hypertensive patients who had been commenced on antihypertensive therapy during a 24-month period and who had subsequently for a reason(s) discontinued the therapy. The results showed variation in discontinuation rates for drugs within same class, and that might be related to the relative frequency of specific adverse effects. Cough was the reason cited for discontinuation of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, with linosopril appearing to be better tolerated than captopril (39% vs 48%) ; peripheral oedema with calcium channel blockers, with amlodipine appearing to be better tolerated than nifedipine (29% vs 38%) and bradycardia with beta adrenergic receptor blockers, with propranolol better tolerated than atenolol (0% vs 48%). Diuretics showed the lowest discontinuation rate (3.3%) mainly due to hypokalemia, with thiazide better tolerated than frusemide (11% vs 43%). Prescribers should verify their use of antihypertensive drugs to ensure that they prescribe drugs with lower adverse effect rates, in order that patients with hypertension continue using the medication in the long term, thereby reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular complications associated with uncontrolled blood pressure.

Introduction Only about 50% of patients with high blood pressure (BP) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) comorbidity have their BP controlled. Objectives The objectives of the study were to determine whether pharmacist‐led interventions reduce mean BP and improve BP control in hypertensive patients with CKD compared with usual care. Methods This 12‐month prospective, double‐blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted at two major hospitals in Nigeria. Seventy‐four participants were randomized to the usual care arm serving as the control and 73 participants were randomized to the intervention arm. The intervention arm received home BP monitors, and pharmacological and nonpharmacological (education and training on self‐management of CKD and hypertension, and text messages) interventions. Results Baseline characteristics were similar between the intervention (n = 73) and usual care (n = 74) participants. However, significantly more females were in the intervention arm compared with the usual care arm (71.2% vs 52.7%; P = .021). Compared with the usual care arm, systolic BP (SBP) significantly decreased by 7.12 mmHg from baseline (P = .020) in the intervention arm. Higher proportions of patients gained BP control from baseline to 6 months (27.4% vs 13.5%, P = .095), and from baseline to 12 months (20.5% vs 8.1%, P = .096) in the intervention arm than the usual care. There were no statistical differences, but clinical differences were observed. Conclusion This trial demonstrates that including a clinical pharmacist in a team care setting can improve BP reduction and control in patients with CKD and hypertension. Trial registration http://clinicaltrials.gov NCT05254392.