Drug Utilization Pattern of Anti-Diabetic Medication: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and is responsible for the significant morbidity and mortality. It is critical to conduct a drug use research of anti-diabetic medications in order to encourage rational drug use in diabetes.
 Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the pattern of drug use of antidiabetic drugs, as well as the prevalence of diabetes and related risk factors throughout treatment period in our sample group.
 Materials & methods: This is a prospective observational research involving 200 secondary care hospital in-patients. During a 6-month period, the prescribing pattern was studied and assessed, and drug-related difficulties in subsequent patients were report.
 Results: Among 200 patients, 111 (55.46%) were male and 89 (44.5%) were female. Subject of age 65-80 (n=73) were observed to be more suspected. Hypertension 130 (61.32%) was the most common risk factors. In 200 cases, the most commonly used therapy was monotherapy in 89 subjects (44.5%) followed by combination therapy 55(27.5%). Insulin 192(54.5%) was most commonly used followed by oral drugs 160 (45.4%). The most usually prescribed monotherapy was metformin, followed by glimepiride, while the most commonly prescribed combination therapy were metformin+glimepiride.
 Conclusion: Prescribing pattern of drugs in diabetic patients concluded that optimized drug therapy led to minimal ensuing DRPs. A continuous observation and reporting of the prescribing practice of anti-diabetic drugs can help the physicians result in therapeutically effective treatment for the patients.
 Keywords: Antidiabetics, Drug utilization pattern, Drug related problem, Comorbidities, metformin