Assessment of Drug Usage Pattern in Patients of Asthma: A Crosssectional Study in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Eastern India

Abstract

Background: In India, asthma imposes a substantial burden; though the disease still remains under-recognized, underestimated and under-treated in masses.With a global need of promoting rational drug use in healthcare, drug utilization pattern studies could provide feedback to prescribers and help in fostering rational drug usage. The present study was planned to study the drug utilization pattern in patients of asthma in a tertiary care set-up in eastern India and to evaluate it with respect to GINA guidelines. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out over a period of one year where cases with confirmed diagnosis of asthma, who gave informed consent to participate were included.Drug usage pattern was determined in the light of drugs prescribed, mean drugs per prescription, percentage of drugs prescribed in generic name and having conformation to national essential drug list. Percentage of inhalational, injectable, fixed dose combination and antibiotics per prescription were noted. Data were checked for completeness and statistically analysed. Results: The present study included 370 participants. A total of 1514 drugs were prescribed, with 4.09 drugs per prescription. 12.55% of drugs prescribed were from national essential drug list. A total of 1031 anti-asthma drugs were prescribed with 2.8 anti-asthma drugs per prescription. Among the various classes of anti-asthma drugs, maximum prescribed were inhalational corticosteroids, followed by long acting inhalational beta 2 agonist and anti-leukotriene drugs. 96.5% of total patients were on inhalational drugs, with budesonide and formeterol being majorly prescribed. Conclusion: The usage pattern as assessed in our study was in conformation to GINA guidelines. Guidelines like GINA have enlightened physicians about the rational prescribing in asthmatic patients.