NEFROTOXICIDADE DOS AINES EM PACIENTES IDOSOS: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

Abstract

This study explored nephrotoxicity associated with the indiscriminate use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the elderly, constituting a public health problem. An integrative review of the scientific literature was conducted using the PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, focusing on national publications from 2020 to 2025, in Portuguese and in full text, employing the descriptors "antiinflammatory drugs," "nephrotoxicity," "elderly," "renal function," and "NSAIDs." NSAIDs are widely used drugs for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic actions, with vast availability and a high prevalence of self-medication in Brazil. Despite their efficacy, the inhibition of cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) by NSAIDs, which is fundamental to their therapeutic effects, is also the basis for their adverse renal effects. The inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 in the kidneys compromises the production of vasodilating prostaglandins, resulting in vasoconstriction, sodium and water retention, and consequently, hydroelectrolytic disturbances that can progress to acute kidney injury (AKI) and worsen diseases. chronic kidney disease. It is evident that all NSAIDs have nephrotoxic potential, especially at high doses and with prolonged use, and that selfmedication and the mistaken perception of risk-free conditions amplify the threat to kidney health, particularly in susceptible populations.