Abstract

“A STUDY ON DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IN TERTIARY HEALTH CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC”

A. R. Shabaraya, Nikhil Benroy Noronha* and Sabtha Hakmal

Abstract

Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases which are estimated to be responsible for 1.5 million deaths in India annually. It is the most prevalent modifiable cardiovascular risk factor for CHD, cerebro-vascular diseases and peripheral arterial diseases. This study was fabricated to evaluate the drug utilization pattern of antihypertensive drug in a tertiary care teaching hospital during the period of COVID-19 pandemic. DUE studies is an ongoing, authorized and systematic quality improvement process. A prospective observational study was conducted in a total of 100 patients at Srinivas Institute of Medical Science and research centre, Mangalore, for a period of six months. Case records diagnosed with hypertension were collected; the demographic information and prescription pattern were evaluated. The data collected were analysed using Microsoft Excel Software. Out of 100 patients 59% were male and 41% were female. Maximum patients belonged to the age group of more than 65 years (54%). A total of 152 drugs were prescribed during the study out of which the most frequent antihypertensive class to be prescribed (22.4%) were ARBs (22.4%) significantly higher than CCBs (21.8%) and diuretics (18.4%). Fixed dose combination of two diuretics (44.44%) is prescribed higher than the combination of ARBs with diuretics (18.18%) and CCBs with beta blockers (18.18%). In this study most of the patients had received two antihypertensive drugs (40%), 39% of patient received one drug therapy while 14% received three antihypertensive drugs and 7% received four drugs for the treatment of Hypertension. Diabetes mellitus was the most commonly associated disease with hypertension being diagnosed among 62 patients in total. The present study suggested that hospital is abiding to the guidelines of seventh report of JNC and the research finding provided an insight into antihypertensive drug utilization pattern in tertiary care hospital and their rational use. Further studies on drug utilization pattern from time to time and the circulation of standard guidelines among prescribing physicians for the treatment of hypertension are required for the rational utilization of drugs in order to achieve maximal therapeutic efficacy.

Keywords: Hypertension, Drug Utilization study, prescribing pattern, antihypertensive agent.