Factors associated with time in therapeutic range among patients on oral anticoagulation therapy in a tertiary teaching and referral hospital in Kenya

Oral anticoagulation with warfarin is challenging owing to the drug’s narrow therapeutic index. Achievement of therapeutic range ensures safety and efficacy of warfarin therapy. A retrospective study of four hundred and six patients on warfarin anticoagulation was conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya for the period between January 2014 and June 2016. The percentage of follow-up time spent in therapeutic international normalized ratio range was computed by Rosendaal linear interpolation method. Factors associated with this time were also explored. The mean age of the participants was 42.7±16.9 years and the ratio of females to males was 3:1. The mean percentage of time spent in therapeutic international normalized ratio range was 31.1%. Poor anticoagulation control was associated with congestive heart failure (p=0.047) and the independent predictor of time in therapeutic range was renal dysfunction (β= -13.3, 95% CI: -25.9, -0.8, p=0.038) suggesting that management of these patients needs to be intensified.Keywords: Warfarin, time in therapeutic range, oral anticoagulatio

A retrospective study of oral medications compounded for pediatric patients at Kenyatta National Hospital

A retrospective study of oral medications compounded for pediatric patients at the Kenyatta National Hospital main pharmacy, manufacturing unit, was carried out for the study period January, 2012 to December, 2013. The aim of the study was to characterize compounding involving oral solid dosage form modifications. A total of 392 oral liquid formulations, comprising one (1) of nineteen (19) active pharmaceutical ingredients, were compounded from oral solid dosage forms over the study period. Sildenafil, furosemide and spironolactone suspensions were the most frequently compounded formulations (41.6%, 21.4% and 10.5% respectively). Sildenafil, furosemide and spironolactone suspensions accounted for 74.5% of the total volume of compounded formulations, with suspensions of all other active pharmaceutical ingredients accounting for only 25.5%. All formulations were prepared using syrup simplex B.P. as diluent, packed in white plastic bottles and assigned beyond-use dates of 2 weeks. Apart from sildenafil suspensions which were recommended for storage at 4 - 8 °C, all other formulations were stored at room temperature.Keywords: Compounding, retrospective, pediatric, dosage form modifications, Kenyatta National Hospita

State of the Climate in 2012

International audienceEditors note: For easy download the posted pdf of the State of the Climate for 2012 is a very low-resolution file. A high-resolution copy of the report is available by clicking here. Please be patient as it may take a few minutes for the high-resolution file to download