Abstract

DRUG PRESCRIBING PRACTICE AMONG ANAMEIC PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

M. Kumaraswamy, Dr. Ariya Chacko, Dr. Chippy Sara Eldho*, Dr. Nevin J. George, Dr. Abel Abraham Thomas and Dr. Laxman Wagle.

Abstract

Introduction Anaemia is a major public health problem in India affecting people in all age group with major consequences for human health as well as economic development. The epidemiology of anaemia in rural setting is not well known. Hence the study aims to access prevalence and prescribing pattern among inpatients attending teritary care teaching hospital in a rural setting. Methods: A prospective and observational study was carried out in 200inpatientsadmitted to Medicine, Pediatrics and OBG department diagnosed with anemia from September 2015 to March 2016.The ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional Ethical Committee of AHRC, B G Nagara. Results: Among 200 inpatients 171 patients (85.5%) were from medicine unit, 25 patients (12.5%) from OBG and 4 patients (2%) from pediatrics. The maximum patients in the study population were females (68.5%) and males (31.5%).Majority of the subjects were diagnosed with microcytic hypochromic anemia (58%) which was categorized to be mild in nature (40%) according to the WHO categorization of hemoglobin. As part of the therapy, Ferrous Sulphate-folic acid combinations (56 prescriptions) and folic acid-vitamin combinations (76 prescriptions) were most prescribed drugs. We found 41 drugdrug interactions (20.5%) in which28 drug drug interactions were accepted by physicians (68.2%).About 95% of the subject‟s condition improved as result of the therapy. Conclusions: This study clearly shows that prescribing pattern of drugs in anemia patients needs to be continuously evaluated in order to promote the more rational prescribing so as to decrease morbidity and cost of therapy to the patient.

Keywords: Anaemia, Drug Prescibing Practice, Who Categorization of Haemoglobin, Pregnancy.