DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN PATIENTS WITH CONGESTIVE CARDIAC FAILURE IN A SOUTH INDIAN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Drug utilization studies are the powerful exploratory tools to ascertain the role of drugs in determining the therapeutic efficacy, cost effectiveness and minimizing the adverse effects. In our study, we have attempted to analyze the drug utilization pattern in Congestive cardiac failure (CCF) patients at AJ Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. The study period was from August 2013 to August 2014. A total of 100 prescriptions were analyzed from medical records of patients admitted to cardiology department with CCF. In the present study, there were 68 male patients and 32 female patients. Most of the patients 83(83%) affected with CCF were above 50 years. Hypertension 43(25.1462%) was the most common comorbidity seen with CCF. Diuretics 166(29.80251%) were the most common class of drugs used to treat CCF. Under inotorpic drugs, Digoxin 79(32.6443%) was used in majority of CCF patients as evident from our study. Our study shows that Polytherapy 96(96%) was preferred than monotherapy 4(4%) in CCF patients. Branded drugs 849(85.2409639%) were most preferred than generic drugs 147(14.7590361%). The most common route preferred was Oral route 720(72.28916%) than 276(27.71084%) intravenous route. The current study has shown that an average of 9.96 drugs was prescribed per patient.