Abstract
The objective of the study was to assess the drug utilization pattern and pharmacoeconomic evaluation of oral hypoglycemic agents in a tertiary care hospital. A prospective observational study was conducted among 153 diabetic patients above 18 years who visited the endocrinology outpatient department for 6 months, and who were prescribed at least one oral hypoglycemic agent. Cost-effectiveness was calculated using the Average Cost-Effectiveness Ratio. Drug utilization pattern of Oral Hypoglycemic Agents monotherapy showed that Metformin was utilized more in that hospital (n=35). Among combination therapy, Glimepiride + Metformin combination was prescribed the most (n=66). The average number of drugs per encounter was 5.88. 18.2% of drugs were prescribed by generic name. 17.64 of drugs encounter with an antibiotic. 13.07% of drug encounters with injections. 55.82% of drugs were prescribed from the Essential Drug List. Among the diabetes population, Metformin was the most utilized drug, followed by Vildagliptin, and Glimepiride + Metformin combination was utilized most. Overall, the prescribing trend of drugs was found to be irrational. Cost-effectiveness analysis found that Glimepiride 1 mg was the cost-effective drug, and also found that the combination of Glimepiride 0.5mg+ Metformin 500 mg was the cost-effective hypoglycemic agent.
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