A Study on Prescribing Pattern in Geriatric Patients

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to study the prescribing pattern in geriatric patients. 
 Methods: A prospective study was carried out for a period of 4 years with one of the objectives to study the prescribing pattern in geriatric patients (≥65 years). The information was collected, from patients admitted to various departments of tertiary care hospital and old-age home at Chitradurga. Sociodemographic, economic, and clinical diagnosis and medication details were collected from medical records in a pre-structured case record form. The medications were classified based on Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system.
 Results: A total number of 526 geriatric patients were enrolled during the study period. Young older patients (75.29%) and male subjects (55.89%) were predominant. Multiple morbidity conditions were more in the present study. Among the diseases diagnosed, circulatory system (I00-I99) affecting was more 41.83%. Prescriptions found with a sum total of 3228 formulations with 357 active drugs. About 56.27% of patients received ≥6 medications (polymedication) and an average of 6.14 drugs per prescription. Usage of parenterals (53.06%) was more among dosage forms. Prescriptions with alimentary tract, metabolism (A) (26.96%), and general anti-infective (J) (19.08%) class of drugs were common. Among individual drugs, pantoprazole (A02BC02), paracetamol (N02BE01), and ceftriaxone (J01DD04) were found more frequent in prescriptions.
 Conclusion: The study concludes the need of intellect prescribing practice, to install more rational therapy among geriatric patients.

Prescribing Pattern in Geriatric Patients in Medical Opd of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

“…Maximum drugs prescribed were from respiratory system (21.1%), followed by GIT (19%), antimicrobials (14.9%), cardiovascular (11.8%), NSAIDs (10.8%), and vitamins (8.1%). Almost similar trend of prescribing has been reported in the past in Indian set up [8,14,16]. However, study from developed country showed cardiovascular drugs, diuretics, and psychotropic drugs accounted for 64% of all drug prescriptions, but these results pertained in population comprised 75 years or above [17].…”

“…About 38.5% of total prescriptions had drugs more than 5 drugs, while 61% had five or less number of drugs. About 56.2% of geriatric are reported to receive six or more medication (polymedication) in one study [14].…”

Pattern of Medication Use Among Elderly Inpatients in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Northeast India

“…In elderly with renal and hepatic dysfunction, FDCs may lead to unnecessary and prolonged exposure to drugs and increase risk of drug toxicity [12]. Drugs acting on alimentary tract (22.1%), followed by anti-microbial agents (18.4%), respiratory system (14.7%), and cardiovascular system (9.8%) were the most were commonly prescribed class of drugs, which was comparable to a study done by Nataraj and Bharathi in South India [16]. Overall, 60.5% of the total drugs prescribed were from the NLEMs 2015.…”