Epidemiology and Predictors of Drug Therapy Problems among Type 2 Diabetic Patients at Wolaita Soddo University Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Diabetic patients have a significant number of co-morbidities which increases number of medications and complexity of treatment that can finally result in drug therapy problems among these populations. Despite its serious negative impact on health outcomes, there is lack of research evidence on drug therapy problem in the country. Therefore, current study aims to assess epidemiology and predictors of drug therapy problems among adult type 2 diabetic patients at Wolaita Soddo University teaching hospital. Method: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March, 2015, among 243 adult type2 diabetes patients attending their ambulatory care in Wolaita University teaching hospital. Medical record reviews and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Drug therapy problems were identified by using Cipolle’s method which was adapted to diabetic patients and further refined by panel of experts. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify predictors of drug therapy problems. Results: Out of 243 adult type 2 diabetic patients included, the prevalence of drug therapy problems was 83.1%. Need additional drug, 137(56.37%) and non-compliance 126(51.9%) were the most common types of drug therapy problems. Age ≥ 65 (AOR=9.079; 95% CI: 2.213, 37.241), comorbidity (AOR=7.004; 95% CI: 1.285, 18.194), polypharmacy (AOR =3.311; 95% CI: 1.366, 30.329), and history of hospitalization (AOR=0.403; 95%CI: 0.176, 0.925) were independent predictors of the drug therapy problems. Conclusion: the study showed that drug related problems especially need additional drug or unmet conditions and non-compliance were major challenges for optimal management of type 2 diabetes in the hospital. Hence, the hospital should optimize utilization of statins and antiplatelet for cardiovascular prevention with due emphasis to increase medication adherence of the diabetic patients.