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Background:Opioid analgesics are among the most commonly prescribed medications, but questions remain regarding their impact on the day-to-day functioning of patients including driving. We set out to perform a systematic review on the risk of motor vehicle collision (MVC) associated with prescription opioid exposure. Method:We searched Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and TRID from January 1990 to August 31, 2021 for primary studies assessing prescribed opioid use and MVCs. Results:We identified 14 observational studies that met inclusion criteria. Among those, 8 studies found an increased risk of MVC among those participants who had a concomitant opioid prescription at the time of the MVC and 3 found no significant increase of culpability of fatal MVC. The 3 studies that evaluated the presence of a dose-response relationship between the dose of opioids taken and the effects on MVC risk reported the existence of a dose-response relationship. Due to the heterogeneity of the different studies, a quantitative meta-analysis to sum evidence was deemed unfeasible. Our review supports increasing evidence on the association between motor vehicle collisions and prescribed opioids. This research would guide policies regarding driving legislation worldwide. Conclusion:Our review indicates that opioid prescriptions are likely associated with an increased risk of MVCs. Further studies are warranted to strengthen this finding, and investigate additional factors such as individual opioid medications, opioid doses and dose adjustments, and opioid tolerance for their effect on MVC risk.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health issue worldwide. It is acknowledged that CKD is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. The role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the pathophysiology of hypertension, and cardiovascular and kidney diseases is well known and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is a major regulator of blood pressure through its effect on body fluids and electrolyte homeostasis. For 2 decades, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors have been the mainstay of treatment for CKD. Clinical trials have shown that prescription of monotherapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers reduces albuminuria and slows the progression of nephropathy in patients with diabetes. In clinical practice guidelines, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors are recommended as the antihypertensive drug of choice in patients with CKD with or without diabetes. Moreover, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors have been shown to offer cardiovascular protection beyond those resulting after blood pressure control. However, the benefits of renin-angiotensin system inhibitor prescriptions for patients with advanced CKD remain controversial. Patients with advanced CKD or who undergo dialysis are under-represented in clinical trials, and studies in this population are urgently needed.

Patients with end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis and persons with epilepsy are at increased risk of death. However, there is little information related to the risk of death when the 2 conditions co-exist. In this issue, Waddy et al.determined that among patients with end-stage renal disease, those with a diagnose of epilepsy or seizures have a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared with those who do not have an epilepsy or seizure diagnosis. This association was further modified by neurology consultation, with a lower risk in persons who had received a consultation. Among antiseizure medications, only gabapentin was associated with a higher risk of death.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) are evidence-based therapies that slow the progression of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) but can cause hyperkalemia. We aimed to evaluate the association of discontinuing RAASi’s after an episode of hyperkalemia and clinical outcomes in patients with CKD.