The Pharmacist’s Role in Managing COVID-19 in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Review of Existing Strategies and Future Implications

Abstract

The global burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has not only disrupted healthcare delivery but has also compromised patients’ access to healthcare on account of the scarcity of medications and trained healthcare professionals. COVID-19 has been particularly challenging for patient subpopulations constituting immunocompromised individuals, geriatric patients, and those afflicted by chronic ailments. Reports indicate that diminished kidney function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) renders patients highly susceptible to complications during COVID-19 treatment. Pharmacists, being medication experts, have a significant role in making treatment decisions during COVID-19 infection. This article describes pharmacists’ interventions for monitoring and managing COVID-19 in patients with CKD. Given the massive increase in off-label use of medications to treat COVID-19, pharmacists can contribute substantially towards dosing decisions, reporting adverse medication events, and managing drug–drug interactions in COVID-19 patients suffering from CKD. In addition to traditional methods of delivering their services, the pharmacist should also adopt innovative tele-health systems to optimize patient care and ensure that patients receive safe and effective therapy during the pandemic.

The effect of pharmacist‐led interventions on the management and outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD): A systematic review and meta‐analysis protocol

“…Pharmacists may also provide routine care of risk factor control and self‐management education programmes. Pharmacists have also played a crucial role in managing CKD patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic, from identifying and preventing potential or actual drug‐drug interactions to making dose adjustments or optimizing doses of medication indicated for COVID‐19, as per the patient's kidney function 19 . There is growing evidence that pharmacists can improve outcomes in patients with CKD and there remains a growing opportunity to improve their incorporation into CKD healthcare teams 20 .…”

“…Pharmacists have also played a crucial role in managing CKD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, from identifying and preventing potential or actual drug-drug interactions to making dose adjustments or optimizing doses of medication indicated for COVID-19, as per the patient's kidney function. 19 There is growing evidence that pharmacists can improve outcomes in patients with CKD and there remains a growing opportunity to improve their incorporation into CKD healthcare teams. 20 [21][22][23] where they had a limited number of search terms and did not have any for the key concept of "intervention."…”