Abstract

ANALYSIS OF DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ADMITTED TO MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

*Geetha S, Sathisha Aithal, Balaji V and Swetha E S

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the drug utilization pattern among hypertensives and to calculate the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) for commonly used drugs in Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: Retrospective medical record analysis was performed in patients with hypertension admitted in MICU between 1st January 2012 and 30th March 2012. The relevant data were collected in a preformed proforma. The drugs were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification (ATC) and the drug utilization was measured in DDD/100 bed-days. Results: Cerebrovascular accident was the most common cause for admission. Parenteral preparations (56.89%) constituted the largest share among all the drugs prescribed. Furosemide- C03CA01 with DDD 5.02 was the most commonly prescribed parenteral drug (12.12%). Amlodipine- C08CA01 with DDD 10.53 was the most commonly prescribed oral drug (11.27%). The average duration of MICU stay was 5.41 ± 4.39 days and the average number of drugs prescribed per patient was 9.41 ± 3.10. Antihypertensive drugs were prescribed in 89.19% of patients. Furosemide was the most commonly prescribed drug (35.29%) followed by Amlodipine (22.06%), Ramipril (7.35%), Prazocin (5.88%) and Metoprolol (5.88%). Conclusion: The present study shows several diagnostic conditions for admission in MICU and a variety of drugs utilized from various drug classes. Rational utilization pattern of antihypertensive drugs was observed. Diuretics and Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were the most often used drug classes. Studies of this type may provide a framework for continuous monitoring of prescription pattern in hypertensive in-patients of MICU.

Keywords: Drug Utilization, Hypertension, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Anatomical therapeutic chemical classification, Defined daily dose system.