Abstract

ANALYSIS OF PRESCRIBING PATTERN AND COST OF PHARMACOTHERAPY AMONG MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION PATIENTS

Kesiya Kuriyan*, Aparna C. Devan, Merlin Sara Monachan, Dr. Mahesh N. M., Dr. Praveen Kumar

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases causes an estimated 17.9 million deaths each year as per World Health Organization among which 85% of this is due to heart attack and stroke. In India, the incidence of myocardial infarction is 64.37/1000 people in men aged between 29-69 years. Aim: To analyse the prescribing pattern and cost of pharmacotherapy among myocardial infarction patients. Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted for a period of six months at the cardiology department of a tertiary care hospital, Bengaluru. Recruited patient’s demographic characteristics, drug therapy, cost of pharmacotherapy and drug interactions were studied and analyzed. Results: Out of 150 patients recruited, majority were males. Commonly prescribed categories of drugs were antiplatelets (99%), lipid lowering agents (97.3%), anticoagulants (74%) proton pump inhibitors (90.7%), beta blockers (70.7%), loop diuretics (47.3%) etc. In about 99% of the patients dual antiplatelet therapy with Aspirin + Ticagrelor/Clopidogrel was prescribed. About 458 drug-drug interactions were identified among which 95% were of moderate severity. The average cost of pharmacotherapy for 3 days of hospital stay for each patient was found to be INR 979.62 and the cost ranged from INR 228. 42 to INR 4336.82. Conclusion: This study provides insight towards drug prescribing pattern and average cost of pharmacotherapy in MI patients.

Keywords: Acute Myocardial Infarction, STEMI, NSTEMI, Aspirin, Cost of Pharmacotherapy.