An Observational Assessment of the Drug Utilization Pattern and Cost Effectiveness of Anti-Diabetic Drugs among Diabetic Patients in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of Bihar

Description

Abstract (English)

Abstract
Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the utilization pattern of anti-diabetic drugs
among diabetic outpatients in a tertiary care teaching hospital.
Material & Methods: The present study was taken in the Department of Pharmacology,
SKMCH, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India for three months. The patients were taken from the
department of medicine. A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Data were
collected by direct patient interview and from case records and discharge certificates.
Informed consent was obtained from all patients included in the study.
Results: A total of 200 diabetic patients were evaluated during the study period. In the
present study, neither male nor female preponderance was seen (males 51%; females 49%).
Majority of our patients were in the age group of 51-60 years (40%). The mean age of the
patients in the present study was 57.6 years (age range: 18-79 years). Our study found that
68% of patients studied received metformin alone and/or in combination followed by
sulfonylureas (50%). 17 ADRs were reported during the study. Hypoglycemia was the most
common ADR observed in eight patients (moderate intensity in seven patients and mild in
one patient). Seven hypoglycemic episodes were probably related to the study medication.
Conclusion: Metformin was the most commonly used drug. The prescribing trend also
appears to be moving towards combination therapy particularly two drug therapies.