To Assess the Drug Utilization Pattern and to Analyze Pharmacoeconomics for Geriatrics in-Patient in Medicine Department of Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to generate the data on drug utilization pattern among geriatric inpatients in general medicine department. Methods:The patient's prescriptions and medical record files were randomly selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria at medicine department of Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital, Dehradun and the required data for the study were collected in well-designed data collection form and evaluated after the period of 3 mo. Results:Conclusion: Most of the drugs were utilized by male patients and the rate of polypharmacy was high.Among 175 patients, males were predominant and 31.42% patients were in age group of 71-75 y. Cardiovascular diseases (28%) were most common cause of hospitalization followed by, respiratory disorders (20.57%). Hypertension (25.72%) was most commonly diagnosed disease followed by, diabetes mellitus (22.2%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (14.28%). The most common comorbidity was hypertension and diabetes mellitus. More than 3 co-morbidities were found in 79 patients. Cardiovascular drugs (22.17%) was most frequently prescribed drug followed by, gastrointestinal drugs (15.30%). Among individual drugs pantoprazole (A02BC02) was most commonly prescribed drugs. Total of 1581 drugs was prescribed with an average of 9.03 drugs per prescription. Only 9.63% drugs were prescribed by generic name. Antimicrobials were prescribed in 146 prescriptions, among them ceftriaxone (J01DD04) was frequently prescribed.

A Study on Prescribing Pattern in Geriatric Patients

“…The non-communicable disease burden in the elderly was found to be more in recent health survey; cardiovascular diseases contributed more than the other group of morbid conditions. Similar, cardiovascular disease cause for admission was common in Singh study [10] and Jhaveri et al [11], whereas in Nayaka et al study found more geriatric inpatients with respiratory disorders (66.67%) followed by diabetes mellitus (35.3%) and cardiovascular diseases (32.67%) [12].…”

“…Sociodemographic and economic details in the current research showed more young older geriatrics than middle older and old older, while comparison of educational level, literate 51.71% were more than illiterate 48.29%, and for occupational level, stay at home 50.57% were more than employed 49.43%, whereas Class V (lower class) 42.21% of geriatric patients were more, followed by Class I (high class) 30.42%, Class II (upper middle class) 20.91% than Class III (middle class) 5.51%, and Class IV (lower middle class) 0.95% in economic class comparison. While, Singh study results also showed more percent of literate, working and economically middle class geriatric patients, than illiterate, not working and middle class or upper middle class respectively [10]. The number of clinical diagnosis, in geriatric patients with multiple morbidity 53.42% (comorbidity), was more than single morbid condition 46.58%.…”

“…Ranitidine was (A02BA02) most frequently prescribed drug, followed by aspirin (B01AC06), diclofenac sodium (M01AB05), and amlodipine (C08CA01) [16] whereas Singh drug utilization pattern showed that cardiovascular drugs (22.17%) were most frequently prescribed followed by gastrointestinal drugs (15.30%). Among individual drugs, pantoprazole (A02BC02) was most commonly prescribed [10].…”

Drug Utilization Study Among Geriatric Patients in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South India

“…Elderly people of India suffer from both communicable and noncommunicable diseases. According to the Government of India statistics, the prevalence of comorbidities is also high among elderly people and these include hypertension (14%), followed by diarrhea (12%), chronic cough (12%), dermatological diseases (12%), illness of heart (9%), diabetes (8.1%), asthma (6%), and urinary problems (5.6%) [4].…”

Drug Utilization Study in Ophthalmology Outpatient Department in a Government Tertiary Care Hospital in Maharashtra

“…Drug utilization research was defined by the WHO in 1977 as marketing, distribution, prescription, and use of drugs in society, with special emphasis on the resulting medical, social, and economic consequences [3]. Drug utilization research is thus an essential part of pharmacoepidemiology as it describes the extent, nature, and determinants of drug exposure.…”