ABSTRACT
Background: There are multiple protocols currently being followed worldwide for effective management of COVID-19 depending on the disease severity as a consequence, of which the prescribing patterns and therapeutic choices still remain unclear. Drug utilization studies provide insight into the current prescribing practices and help us in facilitating the rational use of drugs. Aim and Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate utilization pattern of medications used to treat COVID-19 in hospitalized patients with moderate disease as defined by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines. Materials and Methods: Hospital-based prospective, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted in Designated COVID Hospital, Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bidar for 4 months from March 1, 2021, to June 31, 2021. Data were collected from patients, every 10th inpatient was randomly selected. Rationality of prescriptions was evaluated using the WHO core drug prescribing indicators. A total of 234 hospitalized patients aged more than 18 years with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 of moderate severity according to ICMR guidelines were included in the study. Results: In our study, we found average number of drugs per encounter as 7.29. Percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name as 89.05%. Percentage of encounters with antibiotic as 96.58%. Percentage of encounters with an injection prescribed as 100%. Percentage of drugs prescribed from essential drug list as 83.25%. Conclusion: Drug utilization in COVID-19 is diverse and is in accordance with the existing guidelines. Medications used are highly corresponding to the disease severity. Polypharmacy detected, here, is not irrational as it suppressed the COVID-related mortality. Steroids, anticoagulants and oxygen being the key determinants.
ABSTRACT
Drug Utilization Evaluation (DUE) promotes rational use of drugs. The aim of present study was to conduct DUE of anticancer drugs. Newly diagnosed and/or known case of carcinoma which required treatment with chemotherapy, patients of both sex, and age >18 years were included in the study. Patients diagnosed as having carcinoma that also required surgical intervention, radiotherapy or other modality of management were excluded from the study. WHO core prescribing indicators are used to know about polypharmacy, excessive use of antibiotics, percentage of drugs prescribed by from Essential Drugs List (EDL). Females were commonly affected than males. Patients of age group 41-50 years (mean 52.43, SD ±7.77) constituted the highest number, 34% and 13% in rural and urban population respectively. 5-Flurouracil and Cisplatin are most commonly prescribed anticancer drugs followed by Cyclophosphamide. The most commonly used adjuvant drugs in our study are Diclofenac, B-Complex, Granisetron, Ranitidine, Dexamethasone, Ondansetron, and Mannitol. The cytoprotectant drugs observed in our study are Leucovorin, Mesna and Peg-Filgrastim. Average number of Cytotoxic Drugs per prescription was 1.97. Average number of drugs per prescription was 8.16. Percentage of drugs prescribed from Essential Drugs List (EDL) was 88.4%. Percentage of encounters with an antibiotic prescribed was 54.8%. Polypharmacy, unnecessary antibiotic and injection prescribing were not observed. The percentage of drugs from EDL may be improved.