Tackling non-adherence in dialysis patients with hyperphosphataemia

Abstract

Many patients with late-stage chronic kidney disease require oral phosphate binders to control serum phosphorus levels. However, non-adherence to phosphate binders remains a major challenge and is affected by a number of factors. Nurses have a pivotal role in the day-to-day management of dialysis patients and are well placed to potentially provide education and information about the importance of treatment adherence. Sucroferric oxyhydroxide is a novel iron-based phosphate binder that has been investigated in clinical studies for the treatment of hyperphosphataemia in dialysis patients, where it has demonstrated similar efficacy to sevelamer carbonate, in terms of reducing serum phosphorus levels, but with a significantly lower pill burden and better treatment adherence. This article reviews key Phase 3 clinical data for sucroferric oxyhydroxide and discusses how the attributes of this new phosphate binder may help to address the challenge of patient adherence to phosphate binders in clinical practice. A lot of patients with end-stage renal disease are prescribed phosphate binders to control serum phosphorus levels and treat hyperphosphataemia. However, many studies have demonstrated that adherence to these drugs is low. Viatcheslav Rakov, Edward Chong and Jennifer Parker present a summary of recent research carried out on a new phosphate binder and challenges to adherence.