Low dose aspirin therapy and renal function in a group of elderly patients in the tropics

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether low dose aspirin has any deleterious effects on renal functions in elderly Nigerian patients. Methods: This is a prospective pilot study of 30 adult Nigerians older than 60years with various chronic ailments necessitating the use of low dose aspirin. Patients gave their consent and institutional ethical clearance was obtained. Each patient’s baseline samples at enrolment (before commencing aspirin) served as control and subsequent weekly samples were compared. The weekly mean of each sex group was calculated and difference of means from baseline mean determined. Relative Risk and 95% Confidence interval was subsequently calculated using the method described by Newcombe Wilson . Results: Majority (86.67%) had their basal renal functions in Chronic Kidney Diseases stages 1 and 2. The mean weekly serum and urinary electrolytes, urea, creatinine and uric acid parameters when compared with the corresponding baseline parameters did not change and the confidence interval calculated did not show any statistical significance. Also unlike previous studies, anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia did not affect renal function parameters. However use of low dose aspirin (75mg daily) had a negative effect on the renal function of those on concomitant diuretics and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) (Confidence interval showed statistical significance). Conclusions; This study only showed deleterious effect of short term, low dose aspirin (75mg daily) on kidney functions in elderly Nigerian patients that were on concomitant diuretics and ACEI. However, caution should also be exercised when dealing with those in renal stages 3-5 and the very elderly age ≥ 80 years.