Drug utilization study of antihypertensive drugs in a tertiary care hospital of western maharashtra- a prospective cross-sectional study

Background: Hypertension is a major factor causing increasing international burden of morbidity and mortality. Hypertension is associated with various co-morbidities like Coronary artery diseases, Peripheral vascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, eye blood vessel damage, etc. The prescription of antihypertensive drugs varies according to the cardiovascular morbidity, age, overall health status and many other variables. An understanding of the pattern of the drug usage will help to know the rationale behind the prescription of antihypertensive drugs and their combinations and factors considered by the health provider while recommending the drugs. This is a drug utilization study in hypertensive patients in a tertiary care hospital intended to understand the pattern of anti-hypertensive drug usage in a tertiary health- care institution.
Methods: Hospital based, prospective observational study, conducted in Medicine OPD from 1st September 2019 to 30 November 2019. Study included 316 patients selected through simple random sampling technique.
Results: The mean age of participants was 52.35 ± 12.56 years. Out of total 316 patients 173 were males (55%). We observed that Calcium channel blockers were the most commonly used drugs (44%) followed by ARBs (39%) and Beta blockers (32%). Single drugs were used by majority of the patients (78%) followed by 2 drug combinations (15%) and 3 drug combinations in 6% patients. The utilization of generic drugs in our patients was less compared to branded medicines.
Conclusion: We conclude that there is a need for finding out the loopholes for the possible low compliance in antihypertensive treatment and necessary actions should be taken to prevent the possible complications by ensuring prompt and adequate treatment of hypertension.