Drug utilization pattern of antihypertensive agents in patients of hypertensive nephropathy in a tertiary care hospital: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Objective of the study was to determine the drug utilization pattern of antihypertensive agents in patients of hypertensive nephropathy in a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: This was a prospective observational study carried out in Index medical college and Hospital, Indore over a period of three 4 months. A total of 60 patients aged 40-79 years taking treatment for hypertension with associated nephropathy were enrolled in the study. All the relevant data were collected and drug utilization pattern of antihypertensive agents was determined. The study evaluated the percentage of use of multidrug therapy, drugs prescribed from Essential Drug List (EDL) and prescriptions with generic name. The cost of antihypertensive drugs used per day was calculated and linked with socioeconomic status of the patients.Results: Evaluation of the prescriptions demonstrates that a total of 63.3% males and 36.7% females with mean age of 58.9±11.9 years were enrolled out of which 70% patients were on multidrug therapy while only 30% were on monotherapy. Though only 16.67% patients were prescribed generic drugs but it did not affect the economic condition of the patient as most of enrolled patients belong to upper middle class.Conclusions: The prescriptions analysed were in accordance to guidelines of JNC-8 (Joint National Committee - 8) and most of the prescriptions were found to be rational and it also shows that management of hypertensive nephropathy needs combination therapy.

Drug Utilization Pattern of Antihypertensives in a Private Healthcare Setting in Enugu, Nigeria

“…It can also be used to develop drug prescribing patterns and decrease the economic burden in the cost of patient illness. Previous studies done on drug utilization of antihypertensives were in tertiary hospitals [9,10,12,13]. None has been reported for private healthcare settings in this part of Nigeria.…”

“…Drug utilization evaluation studies is one of the important measuring tools for measuring prescribing practices in health facilities, distinguishing areas for improvement and developing drug prescribing practices, promoting rational prescribing practices, reducing morbidity and mortality, and decreasing the economic burden in their cost of illness [9,10]. Drug utilization research also provides information on the efficiency, and the results can be used in setting priorities for the rational allocation of health care budgets.…”

“…The result of previous studies on drug utilization showed that most prescriptions were rational. Different classes of the drug were frequently prescribed in various studies, for example, Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [9], Calcium channel blockers [10][11][12], Diuretics [2,13], and beta-blockers [14].…”