The NSAID AKI and Hyperkalemia Risk Calculator is a valuable clinical tool for predicting the likelihood of acute kidney injury or hyperkalemia in adult patients aged 66 and older who are starting a new prescription for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This validated score, developed by researchers at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, integrates multiple patient-specific and medication-related factors. By providing a quantified risk assessment, the calculator empowers clinicians to identify high-risk individuals and implement appropriate preventive strategies, such as selecting a safer medication, adjusting the dose, or scheduling closer follow-up to monitor renal function and electrolyte levels, thereby helping to prevent adverse outcomes.

References:

• L.A. Levesque, A. L. (2018). Development and validation of a risk score to predict acute kidney injury or hyperkalemia in older adults prescribed new NSAIDs. BMJ Open, 8(4), e020557.
• C.M. Etminan, K. (2020). Risk of acute kidney injury or hyperkalemia with use of NSAIDs in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(11), 3236-3244.